Sandra C. Mendiola García - Street Democracy

Many people helped me research, write, and publish this book. Jeffrey Bortz introduced me to the archives in Puebla, my hometown, in Veracruz, and in Mexico City. He also encouraged me to come to the United States to study history, which changed my life. Mariano Torres enriched his classes with dry humor and introduced me to the first street vendor I interviewed, Doa Rosa, who later introduced me to her stepson, who gave me the phone number of a man nicknamed El Huaraches, a former student who began working with street vendors in the 1970s. Putting aside my shyness, I called El Huaraches, who was one of the kindest people I met during the several years I spent researching this independent vendor organization. Indeed Jos Luis Daz introduced me to at least two dozens vendors and former students who founded the organization that I explore in these pages. At Pueblas municipal archives I had the fortune to meet wonderful women who were tremendously helpful and patient as I requested boxes related to markets and street vendors. Many thanks to all of them, especially Aurelia Hernndez Yahuitl and Roco (Cho) del Carmen Gmez and to the two friends I met there, Rosa Mara Garca Jurez and Janette Gayoso del Valle. Their knowledge and friendship over the years have meant a lot to me. I would like to thank Pilar Pacheco Zamudio, now directing the Archivo Histrico Universitario de la Benemrita Universidad de Puebla, for her help and kindness throughout the years.

In New Jersey life was good thanks to the friendship and support of fellow historians Jennifer Miller, Laurie Marhoefer, Gregory Swedberg, Robert Alegre, Iben Trino-Molenkamp, and Stephen Allen, who since then have listened to me, responded to my questions, and read drafts of whatever I sent them. At Rutgers I had the best advisor, Mark Wasserman, who always believed in and supported my research. Rutgers also became a special intellectual home where I learned much from tremendously smart and caring historians: Temma Kaplan, Gail Triner, Bonnie Smith, Camilla Townsend, Kim Butler, Paul Clemens, Aldo Lauria-Santiago, and Rudy Bell. They are an endless source of inspiration.

I have been very lucky to have great colleagues and friends at two institutions. At the University of Alabama in Huntsville, where I taught for four years, I would like to thank Molly Johnson, Stephen Waring, Andrew Dunar, Christine Sears, Randall Dills, and Evan Ragland. They supported every decision I took and introduced me to their families, who became my own. Special thanks go to Ingrid Reck and Beverly Gentry, who lovingly took care of my family and me. Id also like to thank my wonderful and accomplished colleagues in the History Department at the University of North Texas, especially Jennifer Wallach, Clark Pomerleau, Michael Wise, Robert Citino, Todd Moye, Marilyn Morris, Rachel Moran, Nancy Stockdale, Richard McCaslin, Alexander Mendoza, and Roberto Caldern. They have patiently listened to me, mentored me, and some read several drafts of my work. Thank you all for your unconditional support, warmth, and good humor. Many thanks to the women of La Colectiva at UNT for offering their friendship and for sharing their intellectual pursuits. Special thanks and mucho cario go to Laila Amine, Priscilla Ybarra, and Valerie Martnez-Ebers for reading sections of this book and for their all-encompassing support. Thanks to my students who provided much enthusiasm and insightful comments: Michelle Findlater, Richard Velzquez, Hugo Martnez, Mario Ovalle, Vogel Castillo, Christopher Menking, and Miriam Calixto.

Scholars close and far have provided much wisdom. Thanks to Alicia Re Cruz, Mariela Nuez-Janes, Gabriela Soto Laveaga, Andrew Paxman, Robert Weis, Jaime Pensado, Elaine Carey, Christina Jimnez, Ingrid Bleynat, Jocelynn Olcott, Nara Milanich, Elizabeth Hutchison, Gregory Crider, Christopher Boyer, Susan Gauss, Meredith Abarca, Julie Livingston, Jeffrey Pilcher, Monica Rankin, Gareth Jones, Alexander Avia, and Heather Ann Thompson. Some of them commented on my work in conferences, others read parts of this book and offered very helpful suggestions. Jezy Gray, Amanda Sewell, and Lyndsay Knecht have helped me improve my grammar. Bridget Barry and her amazing team at the University of Nebraska Press have kindly and professionally guided me through the process of publishing this book. Many thanks to Judith Hoover for her thorough copyediting work. I also appreciate the valuable feedback and suggestions I received from the blind readers.

With true generosity several friends have supported me throughout the years, feeding my family, donating airline miles to commute during a very difficult year, and taking care of Lucia when we have needed it the most: Holger Bretz, Anglica Villasana, Paula Gaetano, Michael Thompson, Meredith Buie, Justin Lemons, Deborah Armintor, and Jodi Ismert. I cant thank them enough for providing peace of mind.

Nothing, absolutely nothing would have educated me and given me the opportunities Ive had without the endless love, economic aid, and patience from my now deceased father, Serafn Mendiola Corro, my very alive mother, Celia Garca Gallardo, and my brother, Juan Manuel Mendiola Garca. My father began working at the age of four and finished elementary school only at the age of seventeen. That was the end of his formal education. He worked every day of his life and taught himself several subjects until just before he died in March 2006. He would have been very proud of this book. Since my mother doesnt read English, this is for her: