Eduardo
Velazquez
History
of the Working Class
Braceros
The United States in the 1940s faced a labor shortage
that was caused by thousands of Americans entering World War II. The
U.S needed to rely heavily on its southern neighbor, Mexico, for
agricultural labor. The Braceros program, which began in 1942 and
ended in 1964, brought thousands of Mexican to work on farms and
railroads in states like Texas, Washington, and California. Through
an agreement between the U.S and Mexico, over 4.5 million workers1
were hired between these years. Although these Mexicans--or
“Braceros”-- faced many hardships for short period of times, they
came back changed both physically and mentally. Braceros, meaning
“strong arms2”
motivated many Mexicans a hope for a better future for themselves and
their families. During the program, most Braceros culture and
lifestyle changed significantly and brought great changes for
themselves, families, and a different mindset for their future and
that of their country, Mexico.
Like many ethnic groups in the U.S, Mexicans faced
discrimination from Americans. Braceros filled the jobs of hard
manual agriculture labor that Americans would not take and for low
pay. American farmers had the belief that the Mexican body was
capable of handling stoop labor. The idea that they could last in
this type of position for long period of time comes from the Mexicans
short physique, buff bodies, and willingness to work for a low wage.
For this reason, Mexican held their identity and pride as Mexicans
very high. Most Mexicans were sent to work in the farms of Texas,
California, and Washington State. Although, the states where most
Braceros worked were not far from the border, the cultural attachment
to Mexico became stronger by the end of the program.3
The wages that were given to the Braceros were usually
low. Wages would range from $0.30 to $1.20 an hour. Although these
wages were considered very low, this was still very good pay for many
Braceros comparing to how much they were paid in Mexico. One Bracero,
named Jesus Campoya Calderon, acknowledges wages were low but more
than enough to purchase a pair of Levi’s jeans. Mr. Calderon says
"Sounds low, but then a pair of authentic Levi's pants cost
$1.98...”4
Braceros came back to Mexico with many commodities that they could
never afford. Many Braceros would bring back “regalitos”5
(gifts) back to those who contributed to them
money to apply for the Bracero Program. The money earned in the
Braceros program allowed purchasing commodities that they would have
never hoped to purchase if they stayed in Mexico.
Recreational activities in the barracks that these
Braceros lived helped them to get through the day. For the reason
that there was electricity available in most small homes, Braceros
would pool in money in order to purchase a TV or a radio. Television,
at the time, only offered English channels which only few Braceros
understood. Radio offered various Spanish speaking stations at
certain times and would include music and news from Mexico. Other
recreational activities would include table games, attending
religious services, or educate themselves by reading books that were
offered at the workplace6.
Crossing into the U.S, Bracero’s nutrition had a
significant impact. Mexicans coming into the U.S had a very poor
diet, most of which consist of one meal per day. The continuous labor
in the field could have disastrous effects for those who did not
consume sufficient energy. Meals for Mexicans, before coming into the
U.S, needed to be accompanied by chiles, tortillas, and beans. Due to
the agreement between Mexico and the United States, farms had to
supply the Braceros with daily meals. Once in the U.S farms, Braceros
diet consisted of yellow cheese, lunch meat, white bread, and
vegetables. Noon meals consisted of a short snack, mainly a sandwich
made of ham or bologna. Most Braceros dislike this type of meal and
many refuse to eat what was available7.
Although Braceros were given meal on behalf of the farms, many would
wait Sunday--their day off-- to purchase food at the local market and
cook for themselves. Other times farm owners, who were nice enough,
would treat their workers outside to eat.
Being a Mexican-American, my mother would tell me a
story about my grandfather, who happened to be a Bracero in the
1960’s in the state of Texas. My grandfather’s (who at that time
was in his early twenties) employer decided to take a group of
workers, including himself, to a restaurant to eat. This is one of
the first few times that my grandfather has ever been to a
restaurant. Once the food was delivered to the table, they were all
handed silverware. My grandfather, who did not know how to use the
fork and knives at that time, was embarrassed of himself. He decided
to leave the restaurant and waited for the group to be finished
outside.8
Like my Grandfather, many Braceros learned the lifestyle
and culture of the United States. Before coming to the United States,
Mexicans ate mostly with their hands. Braceros were taught how to use
silverware and eat proper at the table. Upon leaving the U.S,
Braceros came back with a whole new set of look, knowledge, and
manners. Braceros first came with few clothes to wear, a sombrero
(hat), and used cloaks as jackets. Braceros returns to Mexico with
new sombreros, watches, and radios--something that they never hoped
to afford.9
to make sure everyone was following rules. This
demonstrated that the Braceros would do anything possible to keep
their jobs and to have disciplines within themselves.
Braceros faced many new tasks, one that challenged
their identity as men and their culture that they lived in Mexico.
Mexicans have the belief that a man’s duty in life is to work and
support the family at all cost. A woman’s duty is to take a care of
the children, shop for household items, cook and clean for the
family. Since the Bracero Program consisted of only males, many had
to fulfill the duty of what women would do. Many workers had to go
shopping on their days off, wash their own clothes, and cook meals
for themselves. Many Few Braceros would refuse to wash their own
clothes and hire cleaning services to do so10.
Braceros started to feel foreign and out of place living in a culture
that was entirely different.
Manuel Gamio, a Mexican anthropologist, studied the
Braceros after the program and came to a surprising conclusion.11
He concluded that Braceros who worked through the program changed for
the benefits of themselves and the country. One was that Braceros,
who worked in the U.S, were more discipline when it came to working
than those who did not come to the Bracero’s program. Another
conclusions is that Mexican learned the techniques used in the farms
and applied it back to their pueblos (towns) when they return home to
Mexico. The last conclusion, the anthropologist Gamio found, was the
strong bond Mexicans had to their country and the pride of being
Mexicans12.
This happened because Mexicans experience discrimination in the
workplace.
In
conclusion, most braceros apply to the program for an opportunity to
gain money and be able to support themselves and families back home.
Although the wages were low and faced discrimination, they earned a
vast amount of knowledge. These experiences taught these labor works
to have pride in themselvesthem as men, as Mexicans, and have faith
in themselves. What these workers realize is the cultural impact this
program had on their lives and on the lives of their loved one once
they had arrived home.
2
Philip Martin, “The Bracero Program: Was It a Failure?” (History
News Network 2006 Accessed March
19,2013) (http://hnn.us/articles/27336.html)
3
Deborah Cohen Braceros (North Carolina: University
of North Carolina Press 2011) Chapter 1.
4
Carlos Merentes. “The Treatment of ‘Braceros’ in Texas.” Las
Raices del Trabajador Agricola (Accessed
March 20,2013) (http://www.farmworkers.org/testmony.html)
5
Deborah Cohen Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011)190.
6
Deborah Cohen, Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011) Border of Belonging, Border of Forgiveness
8
Velazquez, Matilde. Interview with Eduardo Velazquez,
3/18/2013.
9
Deborah Cohen Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011) 174
10
Deborah Cohen Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011)126-128.
11
Deborah Cohen Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011) 35.
12
Cohen,Debohra, Debohra Braceros
(North Carolina:UniversityCarolina: University of North Carolina
Press 2011) 36.
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