Interviewer
Maribel Treviño
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Alfonso Romero Hernández was born March 11, 1938, in Tajirachi, Carichí, Chihuahua, México; his mother’s name was Pilar Romero, and his father’s name was Andrés Hernández; they both worked in agriculture; Alfonso had only one sister; he was formally educated through the third grade, and he also helped his parents work in the fields; in 1958, he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he completed four contracts and labored in the fields of Colorado and New México cleaning, pruning and picking beets and cotton; when he was roughly twenty-five years old, he married and later had two children; he eventually immigrated to the United States and became a legal resident.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Hernández briefly talks about his family; in 1958, he decided to enlist in the bracero program; he submitted his birth certificate and proof of military service in order to put himself on the local list of available workers; as part of the contracting process, he was stripped, medically examined and vaccinated; as a bracero, he completed four contracts and labored in the fields of Colorado and New México cleaning, pruning and picking beets and cotton; he goes on to detail the various worksites, housing, provisions, duties and remittances; while working in the beet fields of Greeley, Colorado, he had to use the short hoe, which was extremely difficult; he had to learn how to cook his own food; Saturdays, after work, he went into town for supplies; although he was never really able to save any money, he was treated well and never had any problems; after his time in the program, he returned to México and continued working in the fields; when he was roughly twenty-five years old, he married and later had two children; he eventually immigrated to the United States and became a legal resident; overall, he has positive memories of his time as a bracero; he is grateful to the United States because of all the help he received.
Date of Interview
1-12-2008
Length of Interview
18 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1373
Transcript Number
No. 1373
Length of Transcript
17 pages
Interview Number
No. 1373
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Alfonso Romero Hernández by Maribel Treviño, 2008, "Interview no. 1373," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.