Interviewer
Verónica Cortez
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Juan Guerrero Nava was born on an hacienda in the municipality of Tocumbo, Michoacán, México; he had three sisters and three brothers; he was never formally educated; during the late 1950s, he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California and Michigan, picking beets, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes; he completed a total of four contracts; while working as a bracero, he married and had four children; he later immigrated to the United States and was able to obtain legal documentation for himself and his family.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Guerrero explains that during the late 1950s, he enlisted in the bracero program; in order to get the necessary papers, he had to pick a given amount of cotton; he also talks about the various contracting centers he went through, including Monterrey, Nuevo León, Irapuato, Guanajuato and Empalme, Sonora, México; as part of the process, he was stripped, medically examined and deloused; he also went through centers in Calexico, California and McAllen, Texas; from these centers he was transported by bus to the worksites and given a bologna and cheese sandwich for the ride; although he did not really like it, he had no choice; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California and Michigan, picking beets, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes; he completed a total of four contracts; he goes on to detail the various worksites, camp sizes, housing, provisions, duties, routines, payments, deductions and contract lengths and renewals; while working as a bracero, he married and had four children, who were all under the age of five during his time with the program; he sent money home as often as he could, which in turn allowed the children to go to school; with the little money he kept, he bought a radio, but he could not find any Spanish stations; he later immigrated to the United States and was able to obtain legal documentation for himself and his family; overall, he has positive memories of his experiences as a bracero and would do it again if could.
Date of Interview
5-25-2006
Length of Interview
28 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1075
Transcript Number
No. 1075
Length of Transcript
24 pages
Interview Number
No. 1075
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Juan Guerrero Nava by Verónica Cortez, 2006, "Interview no. 1075," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.