This is the ID of my grandfather (Juan Loza), he is currently 82 years old. Born and raised in Manuel Doblado, Guanajuato, Mexico with his 11 siblings, he was the oldest one. He didn’t even make it to middle school when he was forced to drop out of school at eight years old, to work in order to support his family. Years later, World War II had begun. During World War II most men were required to fight so the United States needed male workers. The United States made an agreement with Mexico to recruit men to the United States to work, these men were called braceros. The word bracero comes from the word braco meaning arm. My grandfather was recruited to work in agriculture, he worked in Texas, California and Michigan. He spent hours bent over in fields picking produce and lived in cramped corridors without his family. My grandfather also experienced segregation, he could shop at certain places, he couldn’t eat at certain restaurants and signs he saw were “No dogs No Negros No Mexicans.” The Bracero program went from 1942-1964, it lasted much longer than the war because growers pressured policymakers to continue the program so they could take advantage of the Mexican workers. Over 4.5 million contracts were used for Mexican workers to come to the United States. In 1964, Congress brought an end to the Bracero program because of human rights violations. 

– Isabel

Relationship:  Child of im/migrant Child of im/migrant