Homero López Ortiz
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Homero López was born in 1934, in Petatlán, Guerrero, México; he was the second of three brothers; his stepfather taught him to work in agriculture, and, at the age of eight, he planted beans, corn, and peppers; he continued these activities until he was seventeen, and then moved to Mexico City, México; in 1954, he joined the bracero program; he worked in Arkansas, California, New Mexico, and Texas picking cantaloupes, cotton, sugar beets, and tomatoes.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Lopéz recalls growing up in Petatlán, Guerrero, México, and learning from his stepfather how to work in agriculture; he remembers planting beans, corn, and peppers from the age of eight until he was seventeen; additionally, he relates how he moved to Mexico City, México, and why he decided to join the bracero program in 1954; he describes the hiring process he went through, the legal requirements he needed to fulfill, the train trip to the border, and the different contracts he had; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, New Mexico, and Texas picking cantaloupes, cotton, sugar beets, and tomatoes; he details what his daily life on the farms was like, the treatment they received from foremen, and the food they were given; furthermore, he expresses what braceros did during weekends, the trips they took to town, and what they did for hobbies; he continues to explain why some braceros deserted the farms, and what were some of their complaints; moreover, he relates what things he liked about the United States, why he decided to live in Mexico City, México, and why he remembers his time as a bracero positively.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Lopéz recalls growing up in Petatlán, Guerrero, México, and learning from his stepfather how to work in agriculture; he remembers planting beans, corn, and peppers from the age of eight until he was seventeen; additionally, he relates how he moved to Mexico City, México, and why he decided to join the bracero program in 1954; he describes the hiring process he went through, the legal requirements he needed to fulfill, the train trip to the border, and the different contracts he had; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, New Mexico, and Texas picking cantaloupes, cotton, sugar beets, and tomatoes; he details what his daily life on the farms was like, the treatment they received from foremen, and the food they were given; furthermore, he expresses what braceros did during weekends, the trips they took to town, and what they did for hobbies; he continues to explain why some braceros deserted the farms, and what were some of their complaints; moreover, he relates what things he liked about the United States, why he decided to live in Mexico City, México, and why he remembers his time as a bracero positively.
Text
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Creator
Domínguez, Violeta
Date
2002-05-31
Bibliographic Citation
Domínguez, Violeta, "Homero López Ortiz," in Bracero History Archive, Item #124, http://braceroarchive.org/items/show/124 (accessed May 17, 2012).
