Interview no. 1404

Mr. Aparicio talks about lending a man money to enlist in the bracero program; when he went looking for him to collect, he saw a number of his friends, and they ultimately convinced him to join the program; he began the process during the 1950s in Zacatecas, México, where he was medically examined before being sent to Irapuato, México, where he underwent more extensive exams; as a bracero, he labored in the fields of California, Idaho, Texas and Wyoming, picking asparagus, beets, cotton, lemons, oranges, peaches, pears, potatoes, strawberries and tomatoes; he goes on to detail the various worksites, camp sizes, housing, provisions, accommodations, duties, routines, treatment, payments, contract lengths and renewals and recreational activities; the starting pay in Wyoming was 50¢ an hour, whereas in California it was 75¢ an hour, and he was eventually able to get up to $1.25 an hour; while there, he completed three eighteen month contracts back to back; in order to renew, he was taken to the border and then brought back; during that time, he was also given a seventy-five day pass to return to Mexico to see his family; he also describes being in San Francisco, California to celebrate 16 de septiembre, the Independence of México; moreover, he also explains his various duties with the crops, including the different tools he used; later, in 1960, he immigrated to the United States; the following year, he was able to bring his family with him; he goes on to chronicle his life after the program, including the different jobs he had; during the 1990s, he ultimately became a citizen; overall, he has positive memories of having worked as a bracero