Interviewer
Susan Samudio
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Porfirio García was born in Tendeparacua Michoacán, México on September 15th 1913. He and his Belén are both from Tendeparacua Michoacán, México. Porfirio and his wife Belén have nine children who all live here in the United States.
Summary of Interview
Porfirio García was born in a town (rancho) called Tendeparacua in the state of Michoacán, México. His parents were also field workers who taught Porfirio and his two brothers how to make tiles for homes, a job that Porfirio worked in until a chance to enter the Bracero Program came to him. The chance to join the Bracero Program came when the governor of Morelia gave the township of Tendeparacua cards to enlist men for the program. Porfirio has worked in many states such as Arkansas, California, Washington State and Texas picking various produce. At the end of the war in 1945, Porfirio was able to continue working as a bracero while visiting his family every now and then; for Porfirio, helping family came first. He did not recall having issues with his salary nor did he have issues with the managers or bosses of the camps. Where he was contracted to work, Porfirio had the ability to come and go with freedom and use his money the way he saw fit and he sent the majority of his money to his family back home. Even though he could have worked in México making tiles, Porfirio felt that he had a better opportunity here in the United States being a good hard worker. Porfirio felt that the Bracero Program was helpful in the country’s time of need.
Date of Interview
7-1-2008
Length of Interview
33 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 1401
Transcript Number
No. 1401
Length of Transcript
16 pages
Interview Number
No. 1401
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Porfirio B. García by Susan Samudio, 2008, "Interview no. 1401," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.