Interviewer
Mireya Loza
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Alberto Montes was born on September 14, 1928, in Huejuquilla el Alto, Jalisco, México; he is the oldest of eight siblings; he never attended formal schooling, and began working in agriculture at age eleven; in 1953, he enlisted in the Bracero Program; he worked in New Mexico picking cotton.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Montes recalls growing up in Huejuquilla el Alto, Jalisco, México with seven siblings; he states that at age eleven he began working in agriculture; he explains that he heard about the Bracero Program in 1952, and decided to enlist in 1953; additionally, he details what the hiring process was like in Empalme, Sonora, México; he describes what the medical exams were like, the process he went through, and his trip to the border; furthermore, he remembers working in New Mexico picking cotton, and what his daily work day was like; he presents what food braceros had, what their living arrangements were like, and how they were treated; moreover, he recounts the discrimination he experienced; he concludes by stating that he has fond memories of the program, and that after repeated trips to the United States, he decided to stay in San Jose, California.
Date of Interview
7-27-2005
Length of Interview
24 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1112
Transcript Number
No. 1112
Length of Transcript
15 pages
Interview Number
No. 1112
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Alberto Montes by Mireya Loza, 2005, "Interview no. 1112," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.