The Braceros faced many challenges while working in California. They were welcomed for their cheap labor but were seen as a burden on U.S. citizens. Although the state of California acquired a great amount of money from the use of this program, there wasn't any gratitude for the services that the Braceros provided. Often living in deteriorating camps, the Braceros were not treated or given the things the enganchadores had told them about. Their low wages reflected the amount of disregard the farmers had for their workers. Giving them terrible wages and poor housing arrangements, the Braceros were treated more as tools for profit than the human beings that they were. Coming from a poverty stricken background, the Braceros did what they could to make enough money to support their families back home. In their efforts to provide, they endured discrimination when things didn’t work out for U.S. citizens. Not only were they used for their labor but also for politics. “Operation Wetback” was a program that was implemented to please the people protesting while giving farmers the advantage of continuing to have cheap labor. The Bracero program was not what the immigrant workers expected. The lives of the men who worked in the Bracero program was horrid and far from what they were promised.
Sources:
Books:
Rosas, A.(2014). Abrazando el Espiritu. California: The Regents of the University of California
Massey, D.S., Durand, J., & Malone, N.J.(2002). Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Mexican immigration in an era of economic integration. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Hernandez, K. L. (2010). Migra! : A History of the U.S. Border Patrol. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
Mitchell, D. (2012). Geographies of Justice and Social Transformation : They Saved the Crops : Labor, Landscape, and the Struggle Over Industrial Farming in Bracero-Era California. Athens, GA, USA: University of Georgia Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
News Articles and Scholarly Journals:
Dredge, B. (1954, Feb 07). Bracero asks only a chance to work. Los Angeles Times(1923-current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/166601097?accountid=13758
Salazar, R. (1963, Apr 07). Quick end to bracero use urged. Los Angeles Times(1923-current file) Retrieved fomr http://search.proquest.com/docview/168305736?accountid=13578
John, H. A. (1962, Jan 18) State growers assail bracero rules. Los Angeles Times(1923-current file) Retrieved fomr http://search.proquest.com/docview/167988934?accountid=13578
SALAZAR, R. (1964, Feb 17). Growers council abandons bracero program extension. Los Angeles Times(1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168541960?accountid=13758
Bracero plan to be opposed by rep. roybal. (1963, Jan 10). Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168323463?accountid=13758
BERNSTEIN, H. (1962, Feb 20). $1 rate for braceros hit on two sides. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168037450?accountid=13758
Extension of bracero program to be asked. (1963, Jan 27). Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168321002?accountid=13758
Bracero program. (2008). International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 1, 364-366.
Lotchin, R. (1994). California cities and the hurricane of change: World war ii in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego metropolitan areas. Pacific Historical Review, 63(3), 393-420.
Books:
Rosas, A.(2014). Abrazando el Espiritu. California: The Regents of the University of California
Massey, D.S., Durand, J., & Malone, N.J.(2002). Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Mexican immigration in an era of economic integration. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.
Hernandez, K. L. (2010). Migra! : A History of the U.S. Border Patrol. Berkeley, CA, USA: University of California Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
Mitchell, D. (2012). Geographies of Justice and Social Transformation : They Saved the Crops : Labor, Landscape, and the Struggle Over Industrial Farming in Bracero-Era California. Athens, GA, USA: University of Georgia Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com
News Articles and Scholarly Journals:
Dredge, B. (1954, Feb 07). Bracero asks only a chance to work. Los Angeles Times(1923-current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/166601097?accountid=13758
Salazar, R. (1963, Apr 07). Quick end to bracero use urged. Los Angeles Times(1923-current file) Retrieved fomr http://search.proquest.com/docview/168305736?accountid=13578
John, H. A. (1962, Jan 18) State growers assail bracero rules. Los Angeles Times(1923-current file) Retrieved fomr http://search.proquest.com/docview/167988934?accountid=13578
SALAZAR, R. (1964, Feb 17). Growers council abandons bracero program extension. Los Angeles Times(1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168541960?accountid=13758
Bracero plan to be opposed by rep. roybal. (1963, Jan 10). Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168323463?accountid=13758
BERNSTEIN, H. (1962, Feb 20). $1 rate for braceros hit on two sides. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168037450?accountid=13758
Extension of bracero program to be asked. (1963, Jan 27). Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/168321002?accountid=13758
Bracero program. (2008). International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 1, 364-366.
Lotchin, R. (1994). California cities and the hurricane of change: World war ii in the San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego metropolitan areas. Pacific Historical Review, 63(3), 393-420.