Interviewer
Anaís Acosta
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Pedro Torres was born in San Pedro del Gallo, on October 9, 1937. He began working with his father growing corn, beans and caring for farm animals. His parents were farmers; Mr. Torres worked with his father and his seven brothers in the field when he was a child; He worked as a bracero picking cotton in Texas and New Mexico.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Torres twenty traveled to Chihuahua to get hired in the Bracero Program. Mr. Torres took a train called “El Pollero” in the city of Gomez Palacio and traveled to Chihuahua, Chihuahua. The most difficult part of the journey was in Chihuahua. The conditions of the train were very poorly. Finally they arrived at the recruitment center in Rio Vista, California where they had some medical examinations. Torres traveled without documents just with his Mexican military ID. Torres worked picking cotton in Texas and New Mexico with a salary of $0.05 per pound of cotton. He returned to work as an immigrant in the United States for several years having a better salary, making up to $3.00 per hour. Torres explains he is very happy because he received the American Residency thanks to the Bracero Program.
Date of Interview
1-7-2008
Length of Interview
58 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1378
Transcript Number
No. 1378
Length of Transcript
37 pages
Transcriber
Unknown
Interview Number
No. 1378
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Pedro Torres by Anaís Acosta, 2008, "Interview no. 1378," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.