Interviewer
Annette Shreibati
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Ignacia Godinez was born July 30, in Tequila, Jalisco, México; her mom’s name was Nicacia Castañeda, and her father’s name was Leonel de Santizo; they were laborers and worked in the fields; Ignacia had five siblings, but all of them died; she received very little formal education and instead worked in fields by the time she was ten years old; she later met a man by the name of Esteban Godinez, who was from Michoacán, México; together they had nine children, five girls and four boys; Esteban enlisted in the bracero program in 1942, and he continued with the program until it ended in 1964; they eventually married through the church in 1976; their daughter was ultimately able to help them legally immigrate to the United States.
Summary of Interview
Mrs. Godinez talks about her family and what her life was like growing up; she did not go to school very long, but she did learn how to write her name; she later met a man by the name of Esteban Godinez, who was from Michoacán, México; some time afterward, they moved to Mexicali, Baja California, México and had their first child in 1954; they had a total of nine children, five girls and four boys; Esteban enlisted in the bracero program in 1942, and he continued with the program until it ended in 1964; his contracts lasted six months to a year; as a bracero, he was able to work with a neighbor and brother-in-law; Esteban sent letters and one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars home every month; Ignacia bought food and supplies with the money he sent; he often told her how hard life was, but that it was worth it, because of their children; life after the program was especially difficult, because there was no work; he sold paletas and water to make ends meet; they eventually married through the church in 1976; their daughter was ultimately able to help them legally immigrate to the United States.
Date of Interview
5-23-2006
Length of Interview
26 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1222
Transcript Number
No. 1222
Length of Transcript
19 pages
Interview Number
No. 1222
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Ignacia Godinez by Annette Shreibati, 2006, "Interview no. 1222," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.