Interviewer
Laureano Martínez
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Alonso Venegas was born on October 20, 1940, in Mezquital, Durango, México; he was the only male in a family of four; at the age of eight, he worked planting beans and corn in an effort to help his father with their ranching duties; he labored as a bracero from 1959 to 1964 in California; he picked lemons, oranges, sugar beets, and tomatoes.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Venegas worked as a bracero in California from 1959 to 1964; he recalls the hiring process in rural areas and the bracero contracting center in Empalme, Sonora, México; additionally, he states how Sonora ranchers had agreements with workers to allow them to enlist in the Bracero Program; he describes daily activities, the extreme weather conditions they were exposed to, their housing, and the food they prepared; furthermore, he discusses the different contracts offered to them, the way they were paid, and how they sent money to México; he also relates an occasion when he suffered from dehydration; moreover, he explains the benefits of having been a bracero; beyond this work, he recounts why he crossed to the United States in 1972 and 1973 to be an undocumented worker, and why he would like to be a legal U.S. resident; he also expresses his pride in having been a bracero and how that experience helped him and his family to better their lives.
Date of Interview
5-26-2003
Length of Interview
70 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1024
Transcript Number
No. 1024
Length of Transcript
32 pages
Interview Number
No. 1024
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Alonso Venegas Batres by Laureano Martínez, 2003, "Interview no. 1024," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.