Interviewee

Brijido Solíz

Interviewer

Alma Carrillo

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Brijido Solíz was born October 8, 1925, in Hidalgo, México; his parents were field workers, and he had five siblings; although he was never formally educated, his father taught him how to work in the fields and care for animals; in 1955, he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arizona and California until 1964; he had three children with his first wife in México; later, he immigrated to the United States where he remarried and had three more children; he ultimately became a citizen.

Summary of Interview

Mr. Solíz talks about his family and what his life was like growing up; in 1955, he was living in Poza Rica [de Hidalgo], Veracruz, México, when he decided to enlist in the bracero program; at the time, he was working on an ejido, but he was not earning enough to make a living; he went to Mexicali, Baja California, México to begin the contracting process; upon crossing into the United States he was medically examined and fumigated; on some occasions, he was able to obtain a specialized workers contract, as a palmero, or date picker, which allowed him to go through the entire contracting process much more quickly; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of Arizona and California until 1964; he goes on to detail the various worksites, camp sizes, housing, accommodations, amenities, provisions, duties, routines, treatment, working relationships, payments, remittances and recreational activities, including trips into town; his longest and best contract was in Coachella, California, as a palmero; during his time as a bracero, he learned to read and write in order to send letters home; he also explains that he earned very little money when he started, but by the end of his last contract, he was earning $1.25 an hour; he had three children with his first wife in México; later, he immigrated to the United States where he remarried and had three more children; he ultimately became a citizen; overall, he has positive memories of the program and is proud to have been a bracero.

Date of Interview

5-20-2006

Length of Interview

35 minutes

Tape Number

No. 1258

Transcript Number

No. 1258

Length of Transcript

33 pages

Interview Number

No. 1258

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Comments

Interview in Spanish.

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