Interviewer
Laureano Martínez
Project
Bracero Oral History
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee
Salvador Esparza was born on July 15, 1919, in Tepehuanes, Durango, México; he was the eldest of his nine siblings; when he was fourteen years old, he and his family moved to Durango, Durango; in 1945, he decided to enlist in the Bracero Program; as a bracero, he worked on the railroads, in the fields cutting asparagus, and as a camp cook.
Summary of Interview
Mr. Esparza recalls his family, childhood, and adolescence; in spite of fears caused by rumors about World War II, he was encouraged by stories of successful first time braceros, and he decided to enroll in the Bracero Program in 1945; he went through the hiring process at a contracting center in Durango, México; from there, he was transported by train to Querétaro, then to Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, and finally to Chicago, Illinois; he describes his first impressions of Chicago and how well he was treated by the people there; in addition, he details the work, wages, payments, housing, food, and the multicultural community that worked for the railroad company; he also mentions the strong friendships formed between the braceros and the great relationship he had with an Italian foreman; furthermore, he was treated well wherever he worked; he concludes that he is extremely grateful to the United States for having afforded him the opportunity to work as a bracero.
Date of Interview
5-31-2003
Length of Interview
88 minutes
Listen to the Interview
Tape Number
No. 999
Transcript Number
No. 999
Length of Transcript
49 pages
Interview Number
No. 999
Terms of Use
Unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Interview with Salvador Esparza Carreño by Laureano Martínez, 2003, "Interview no. 999," Institute of Oral History, University of Texas at El Paso.
Comments
Interview in Spanish.