Interviewer
Mario Sifuentes
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Marcos Ruíz was born in Villa Corona, Jalisco, México; he was never formally educated, and he worked instead; when he was seventeen years old, after he completed his military service, he moved to Mexicali, Baja California, México; he later enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in California primarily irrigating crops; his employer later helped him obtain legal status in the United States, and he ultimately became a citizen.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Ruíz briefly talks about his life in México; when he was seventeen years old, after he completed his military service, he moved to Mexicali, Baja California, México, where he learned about the bracero program; he went through the contracting center in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México; from there, he was transported by train to the border, where he was stripped and medically examined; many men fainted when blood samples were collected, because they had not eaten; worse yet, they were forced to strip in spite of the women present; an American official told them it did not matter, made them bend over and pinched their bottom; as a bracero, he worked in California primarily irrigating crops; he goes on to detail the various worksites, duties, routines, provisions, treatment, payments, deductions, remittances, correspondence and recreational activities, including trips into town; oftentimes, he chose to irrigate crops, because he earned more money; he even worked with the same employer for seven years, because he was repeatedly asked to return; consul representatives regularly visited the camps to speak with braceros; the representatives even gave out fines if any leftover food was given to the men; in addition, Marcos talks about an Arab employer in Brawley, California, who set up an altar for the Virgen de Guadalupe on December 12; he even received special permission to have a procession down the town’s main street; sometime later, an employer agreed to help him obtain legal status, and just as his last contract was ending, his papers came through; he ultimately became a citizen.
Date of Interview
5-20-2006
Length of Interview
40 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1243
Transcript Number
No. 1243
Length of Transcript
38 pages
Interview Number
No. 1243
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Marcos Ruíz by Mario Sifuentes, 2006, "Interview no. 1243," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.