Memoirs Joseph L. Lopez: The Memoirs of a Spanish Immigrant to the United States

Joseph Lopez Lopez wrote his memoirs by hand on lined notebook paper in 1978. These pages were "bound" into a gray folder. Copies were given to each of his children and grandchildren. These memoirs encompass Joseph L. Lopez' recollections of his life from the early 1900's through the time of his putting pen to paper in 1978.

Joseph L. Lopez's parents moved their family to Hawaii from the Andaluc a region of Spain in 1907.

Six ships, from 1907 to 1913, brought over 8000 men, women and children from Spain to the sugar cane fields of Hawaii. Most of these Spaniards subsequently immigrated to California.

Joseph L. Lopez's memoirs allow his descendants, and the descendants of other Hawaiian Spaniards to have the history of his immigration story. Joseph L. Lopez's memoirs provide others a glimpse into the life of a Spanish immigrant family, from 1900 through 1978. These Spaniards courageously left their impoverished ancestral home in the Andaluc a region of Spain, traveled by ship to Hawaii, and eventually immigrated permanently to California.

Joseph and his family worked the land in Hawaii and in California; just as they did in Spain. They did whatever was necessary to support one another, to survive, and to thrive through perseverance and resiliency. Eventually, Joseph became a business owner, a land owner, and an entrepreneur.

Two people, looking through the same window, but from opposite sides, see two different perspectives. One sees an outdoor scene, another sees a kitchen. Both are correct...just a different perspective. It is only when we take the time to come around to the other side of the window that we can "see" another's perspective.

Joseph L. Lopez's gives us his perspective; the nuances of what it means to immigrate, to assimilate to a new life. We don't have to become a 'melting pot' where we lose our identities...we can be the 'tossed salad' where we maintain our own distinct flavors and at the same time become an integral part of the whole America.

This melting pot vs. tossed salad concept exemplifies a wider perspective of the varied immigrant heritage of the United States.

Let us each be encouraged to delve into our own family's immigration story. It is perhaps not as clear as we thought it was. We are all from somewhere else; ...no matter how far back that may be.

Author: Joseph Lopez Lopez
Publisher: Susan Marie Burkholder
Published: 12/01/2020
Pages: 134
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.42lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.29d
ISBN: 9780578660332

About the Author
Lopez, Joseph Lopez: - Joseph (José) Lopez's family immigrated from Spain to Hawaii in 1907 when he was 7 years old. In 1912, Joseph's family left Hawai'i for California. José married Josefa (Josephine/Josie ) BORREGO Romeo in 1927. They settled in the Bay Area of California where the raised their children; Mary, Tony, and Josephine. José, Josie, and their extended families initially made their living as migrant, cannery and factory workers. José and Josie eventually became business owners, land owners, and entrepreneurs. At varying times, they owned a gas station, a gift shop, an apartment complex, orchards, and vineyards. José and Josie retired to Sunnyvale, CA and eventually to Woodland, CA. Joseph (José ) Lopez Lopez passed away in November of 1993. His wife, Josephine (Josie) Borrego Lopez passed away in 1996.Burkholder, Susan Marie: - Susan Burkholder (née Hassinger) is the seventh grandchild of Joseph L. Lopez's nine grandchildren. Her mother was Josephine (Jo) Hassinger (née Lopez). Susan graduated from The University of Texas with a business degree. Susan Burkholder worked for 30 years in the health care industry in sales, marketing, consulting, coaching, and executive management roles. In 2006, she completed a combined Master's and Doctoral Program in Naturopathy, or Natural Health; so technically, she is Dr. Burkholder; although she is now retired from active health coaching practice. In 2013, Susan felt called to get involved in the issue of human trafficking. Since 2015, she has served with a non-profit, Ransomed Life, as their Director of Community Awareness.

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