Interviewee

Maria L. Menchaca

Interviewer

Anaís Acosta

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

María L. Menchaca was born on November 20, 1942, on a ranch named Corrales de Rábago, in the municipality of Pénjamo, Guanajuato, México; her mother’s name was Natalia Espinoza Herrera, and her father’s name was Antonio Ortega Estrada; she had eleven siblings, two of whom died when they were young; she was left with seven sisters and two brothers; her father, Antonio, worked in agriculture using borrowed land to support the family; in 1942, he enlisted in the bracero program, and he worked in Arizona, California, and Texas on the railroads and in the fields picking carrots, cotton, grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Summary of Interview

Ms. Menchaca describes growing up in a small town; in 1942, the year she was born, her father, Antonio Ortega Estrada, went to Irapuato, Guanajuato, México, to enlist in the bracero program; as a bracero, he labored in Arizona, California, and Texas on the railroads and in the fields picking carrots, cotton, grapes, lettuce, and tomatoes; although María was too young to remember her father being in the program, he frequently spoke of his experiences; Antonio endured being stripped and fumigated out of necessity; oftentimes, he worked from sun up to sun down, which was especially difficult; he slept on a bunk bed in a huge bodega with many other men and was taken to work by bus; although he regularly sent money home, he seldom wrote letters, because he did not write very well; in addition, he also spoke about how he was treated poorly, immigration checks, provisions, and recreational activities, including movies and church services; María also remembers taking a train and going into town with her mother and uncle to cash the checks her father would send; she mentions that there were primarily women and children in town and the surrounding areas, because so many men had joined the program; moreover, the men that did stay assaulted or took advantage of the women; although Antonio was able to save money as a bracero, he suffered greatly.

Date of Interview

5-26-2006

Length of Interview

35 minutes

Tape Number

No. 1156

Transcript Number

No. 1156

Length of Transcript

13 pages

Interview Number

No. 1156

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Comments

Interview in Spanish.

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