Interviewer
Myrna Parra-Mantilla
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Rodolfo Aranda Morales was born in Morelos, Chihuahua, México; he began working with the Bracero Program in 1953; as a bracero, he worked in the cotton and beet fields of Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and Wyoming; he continued working as a bracero until 1962.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Aranda recalls that up to 10,000 braceros were hired per day in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México; in Rio Vista, a processing center in Socorro Texas, the braceros were separated according to which state they were from because this was thought to have a direct correlation with their skills; many farmers did not like to hire braceros from the south of México, because they did not have enough experience; in general, the braceros from the south of México earned much less than those from the north; Mr. Aranda often sent money orders to his family, but due to problems he encountered, he began using bank checks instead; while working in the cotton fields, he became ill and was hospitalized; he recalls how each bracero had to pay $2.00 for the bags that they would use to collect the cotton they had picked for that day; Mr. Aranda worked as a bracero for nearly ten years, from 1953 to 1962.
Date of Interview
2-25-2003
Length of Interview
62 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1118
Transcript Number
No. 1118
Length of Transcript
30 pages
Interview Number
No. 1118
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Rodolfo Aranda Morales by Myrna Parra-Mantilla, 2003, "Interview no. 1118," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.