An audio recording of an oral history of Salvador Rodriguez Marquez, who was a Bracero in California and Texas. He is primarily interviewed over the phone by his son, Jaime Rodriguez. The interview begins with Salvador recounting when he first heard of the Bracero program and other reactions he observed in Mexico. He details the process of being contracted, the emotions he felt being in a new and unknown country, and the journey that he and other Bracero had to go through to get to the contract sites. He talks about arriving to Los Angeles and his experiences with language barriers when purchasing food, and remembers the treatment they received from their bosses at the time. He gives more details of what the contracts would entail in minute 18:00 and recounts how braceros were processed in Calexico before coming to the US, which included being checked for lice and being hosed down with dust. At minute 22:50 he remembers what people would do for the weekends and at minute 25:00, Ilene O'Malley asks him some questions about the 'barajas' where he and and other braceros prepared food. He mentions an immigration checkpoint in San Clemente and remembers the environment of the small Mexican-American towns that their bosses would take them to. At minute 30:00 he compares his working experience between Texas and Los Angeles and at minute 31:15, Beth Dehn inquires about Salvador's reasoning at the time for not applying for permanent legal status in the US. In minute 38:00, he recounts a story where he was robbed and nearly murdered by some 'Chicanos,' how he managed to escape, and the brief aftermath of that incident. At about minute 45:45 he starts talking fatal car accidents that he witnessed in the US, and recounts the time he went to a morgue that mainly served Mexicans and saw their bodies being hung en masse from the heel like pigs. From 49:00-51:15 the interviewers and Salvador are wrapping up and saying their goodbyes. After the phone call is over, the interviewers touch base amongst themselves and clarify a view of the stories they heard, including the car accidents/treatment of the deceased Mexican bodies. Jaime also recounts further details of this topic that he father hadn't mentioned in the phone call. They also clarify the story of when he father was almost killed, how he escaped, and the aftermath. At minute 59:30 the interview detract from the topic and the interviewers say their goodbyes, mentioning they would like to speak with Jaime's father again in the future. //// Una grabación de audio la historia oral de Salvador Rodríguez Márquez, que fue un Bracero en California y Texas. Es entrevistado principalmente por su hijo, Jaime Rodríguez via telefono. La entrevista comienza con Salvador relatando cuando escuchó por primera vez sobre el programa Bracero y la reacciones de otros que observó en México. Detalla el proceso de ser contratado, las emociones que sentía en un país nuevo y desconocido, y el viaje que él y otro Bracero tuvieron que pasar para llegar a los sitios de contratación. Habla de llegar a Los Ángeles y de sus experiencias con su barreras de lenguaje al comprar comida, y recuerda el tratamiento que recibieron de sus jefes durante ese tiempo. Da más detalles de lo que los contratos en minuto 18:00 y relata cómo los braceros fueron procesados en Calexico antes de venir a los EEUU, que incluyó ser comprobado para los piojos y ser bañados con mangeras llenas de polvo. Al minuto 22:50, recuerda lo que la gente hacia durante los fines de semana ya las 25:00, O'Malley le hace algunas preguntas sobre las 'barajas' donde él y otros braceros preparaban comida. Menciona un puesto de redada de inmigración en San Clemente y recuerda el ambiente de los pequeños pueblos mexicano-americanos a donde sus jefes les llevaban. Al minuto 30:00 compara su experiencia de trabajo entre Texas y Los Ángeles y al minuto 31:15, Beth Dehn pregunta sobre la razones de Salvador por no solicitar un estatus legal permanente en los Estados Unidos durante ese tiempo. En el minuto 38:00, él relata una historia en la que fue robado y casi asesinado por unos 'Chicanos', cómo logró escapar, y lo que ocurrio despues del incidente. Alrededor del minuto 45:45 comienza a hablar de accidentes mortales de automóvil que miro en los Estados Unidos, y cuenta de un tiempo en que fue a una morgue que servía principalmente a mexicanos y miro sus cuerpos colgando en masa del talón como cerdos. A partir de las 49:00 - 51:15 los entrevistadores y Salvador se despiden. Después de concluir la llamada telefonica, los entrevistadores hablan entre sí y aclaran alguans de las historias que oyeron, incluyendo los accidentes de tráfico / el tratamiento de los cuerpos mexicanos fallecidos. Jaime también cuenta otros detalles sobre este tema que su padre no había mencionado en la llamada telefónica. También aclaran la historia de cuando Salvador casi fue asesinado, cómo se escapo, y lo que paso despues. A las 59:30 la entrevista desvirtúa el tema y los entrevistadores se despiden, mencionando que les gustaría volver a hablar con el padre de Jaime en el futuro.
An audio recording of an oral history of Jose Jaime regarding Latino migrant laborers and the Bracero program in the 1940s-1960s. Topics include: his oldest brother's work as a bracero in California beginning in the late 1940s; another brother's work as a bracero in Arizona; hearing about work in America while living in Mexico; reasons for leaving Mexico; meaning of the word 'bracero'; Jose's arrival in Washington County, Oregon in 1965; migrant laborers being hired by Tektronix; several churches subsidizing 12 families so that they could settle permanently in the county; abuses of migrant laborers; how the Hispanic community enriches the county. This recording is accompanied by a transcript.
An audio recording of an oral history with Theresa Clark regarding Latino migrant laborers and the Bracero program in California and Oregon. Topics include: working as a payroll clerk for braceros in California beginning in 1956; her family's Mexican background; pay and conditions in migrant camps in California; laborers sending most of their pay back to their families; racist incidents later in life while working for Kaiser in Oregon; hard work done by the braceros; what clothes they wore; moving to Oregon in 1966; racist attitudes in Washington County, Oregon; and other topics. There is a transcript of this interview.
An audio recording of an oral history of Vlasta Becvar Barber on Braceros and the Agricultural Workers Health Association. Photos and biographical information are also included. There is a transcript of this interview.
