Interviewee

Florencio Magallanes

Interviewer

Myrna Parra-Mantilla

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Florencio Magallanes was born in Santa Isabel, Chihuahua, México, in 1933; he helped his father work the fields and he also went to school; he worked as a bracero in Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado; he was able to renew his work contract eight times.

Summary of Interview

Mr. Magallanes briefly recalls his childhood during which time he went to school for only three years; he was hired as a bracero in 1954, and worked in cotton and beet fields; he worked in Pecos, Texas, where the living conditions were harsh; there were between 200-300 braceros living in the same barracks; the food service was terrible as well; sometimes there was not enough food for all the braceros, but they had to pay for the food regardless of whether they ate or not; whenever they had free time, they liked to drink beer and have races.

Date of Interview

5-11-2003

Length of Interview

32 minutes

Tape Number

No. 976

Transcript Number

No. 976

Length of Transcript

17 pages

Interview Number

No. 976

Terms of Use

Unrestricted

Comments

Interview in Spanish.

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