The dark history of "gasoline baths" at the border

Summary

The video script recounts the story of Carmelita Torres, a 17-year-old who led a revolt against dehumanizing disinfection practices at the US-Mexico border in 1917. It delves into the eugenics movement's influence on immigration policies, the tragic consequences of El Paso's obsession with cleanliness, and the broader implications of these actions, including their connection to Nazi Germany's use of Zyklon B. The narrative also touches on the Bracero program and the enduring legacy of fear, exclusion, and health concerns at the border.

Takeaways

• 📰 The story of Carmelita Torres is primarily known through 1917 newspaper accounts, which portrayed her as a young leader of anti-American riots at the US-Mexico border.
• 🌐 The US-Mexico border was once unrestricted, but after 1917, it became a site of tension and strict controls, influenced by World War I and the Mexican revolution.
• 🧬 The eugenics movement in the US led to discriminatory immigration policies, stereotyping Mexicans as inferior and unclean, which was reflected in border practices.
• 🛁 El Paso's Mayor Tom Lea's obsession with cleanliness extended to racial purity, leading to inhumane 'sanitary betterment work' in Mexican neighborhoods, including forced delousing and even deaths from a jail fire.
• 🚫 A disinfection plant was established at the border where immigrants were subjected to humiliating and degrading treatments, including toxic fumigations and IQ tests to prove their fitness for entry.
• 🔥 Carmelita Torres led a revolt against these practices, refusing to comply with the order to bathe and sparking a protest that shut down the border for three days.
• 🌪️ The Bath Riots, led by Torres, grew from 200 to 2,000 protesters, who used physical resistance and created blockades to express their outrage against the treatment at the border.
• 📉 Despite the riots, the US government continued its fumigation practices, and in 1917 alone, over 100,000 Mexicans were deloused, reflecting a lack of change in policy.
• 🔗 The US border practices, including the use of Zyklon B, influenced Nazi Germany's approach to disinfection, showing a dark historical connection between the two countries' treatment of certain groups.
• 🛂 Post-riots, the US implemented stricter immigration laws, including passport requirements and literacy tests, further tightening border controls.
• 🕊️ The script suggests a continuity of fear and exclusion politics at the border, with parallels drawn to modern concerns about health and immigration, despite the historical evidence of disease originating from within the US.

Q & A

Who was Carmelita Torres and what was her role in the 1917 events?

Carmelita Torres was a 17-year-old girl known as an 'auburn-haired Amazon' who led a protest against the humiliating disinfection practices at the US-Mexico border. She is compared to the Rosa Parks of the border for her defiance in refusing to submit to the degrading disinfection process and inspiring others to do the same.

What were the historical conditions that led to the changes at the US-Mexico border in 1917?

The ongoing Mexican revolution and the US entry into World War One created a climate of fear and paranoia. This, coupled with the eugenics movement and a desire for racial and physical purity, led to stricter immigration controls and the establishment of disinfection practices at the border.

What was the 'Bath Riots' and what triggered it?

The 'Bath Riots' was a protest led by Carmelita Torres and other women against the dehumanizing disinfection process at the border. It started as a spontaneous protest on January 28th, 1917, and grew to involve 2,000 people, effectively shutting down the border for three days.

What were the disinfection practices at the border and why were they implemented?

The disinfection practices included forcing immigrants to strip naked, fumigating their clothes with toxic pesticides, and making them bathe in kerosene and vinegar if lice were found. These practices were implemented under the guise of 'sanitary betterment work' to control the spread of diseases like typhus, but they were also a manifestation of the eugenics movement and racial discrimination.

How did El Paso's Mayor Tom Lea contribute to the situation at the border?

Mayor Tom Lea had an obsession with cleanliness, which extended to racial purity. He led campaigns to inspect houses in Mexican neighborhoods for lice, enforced the fumigation of clothes, and expanded these 'health measures' to include inmates in the El Paso jail, leading to a tragic fire where 27 prisoners died.

What was the outcome of the Bath Riots for Carmelita Torres and the protesters?

After the Bath Riots, the ringleaders, including Carmelita Torres, were arrested. While some men were publicly executed, Carmelita's ultimate fate remains unknown as she seemingly disappeared from historical records.

How did the US disinfection practices at the border influence Nazi Germany?

The US practices of disinfecting immigrants at the border, particularly the use of Zyklon B, were cited in a German pest science journal as an effective method for killing pests. This same scientist later advocated for the use of Zyklon B in Nazi disinfection chambers, which eventually led to its use in concentration camps.

What was the Bracero program and how did it continue the legacy of border disinfections?

The Bracero program was a labor agreement that brought Mexican men to work on US farms and railroads. During this program, border disinfections continued, with migrants being sprayed with insecticides like DDT, which was later banned for agricultural use due to its toxicity.

Why did the disinfection practices at the border finally end in the 1960s?

The disinfection practices ended in the 1960s when health authorities acknowledged the dangers of the chemicals used, such as DDT. The practices were discontinued as a result of this recognition.

What is the historical significance of the Spanish Flu epidemic mentioned in the script?

The Spanish Flu epidemic, which was the worst in the southern border region's history, is significant because it was likely brought to the border by American soldiers, not from Mexico as might have been suspected at the time. This challenges the narrative of disease spread and highlights the interconnectedness of health crises.

How does the script suggest that the legacy of the disinfection practices and border policies continues today?

The script suggests that the legacy continues through the language, strategy, and politics of fear and exclusion at the border. It draws parallels between past practices and current issues, such as the treatment of migrants in detention centers and the rhetoric around disease spread.