Between 1942 and 1964, more than two million Mexicanos were allowed entry into the United States to fill the shortage of labor created by World War II. Mexican men were employed to work in farms, railroads and ranches across California, Texas, Idaho, Illinois and Oregon. This particular program, called the “Bracero Program,” changed the life of many Mexicano men, as well as the economies of two neighboring nations.
At the University of Texas at El Paso, the Institute of Oral History created and presented an exhibit this past semester that featured both photographs and excerpts from compelling testimonies from braceros as to their experiences of working in the United States.
I was fortunate to the attend the exhibit and was floored at the powerful experiences that these brave men endured in order to survive, in order to feed their familias, and to continue their spirit of being hard workers with dignity. The exhibit featured the actual words of some of the testimonies while several portraits were displayed in-between the quotes. The testimonies told the amount of strength it took to endure the injury of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. The testimonies also told the excitement of having the opportunity to work in the U.S. while others described the experience of being in a different place/space and within inhumane working conditions. The exhibit was beyond powerful; the exhibit was arresting.
While at the exhibit, I kept remembering the significance of the working class in all our histories. Chicano/a history is all about the working class. We can never forget this as a fact.
I only hope that more obreras and obreros who have contributed to U.S. capitalism are willing to tell their (his)storias so we can continue adding to our nuestro pasado/our pasts.
