Horacio Andrejol
Title
Horacio Andrejol
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Horacio Andrejal was born on May 15, 1934, in Caborca, Sonora, México; he had three brothers and five sisters, and his parents worked in agriculture; his formal education extended only through the second grade; in 1960, he was married.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Andrejal briefly describes his family; for a time he worked illegally in California, but his employer helped him become a bracero toward the end of 1958; he then completed an eighteen month contract; his boss wanted him to drive, but as a bracero he was not allowed to, so he was sent to Tijuana, Baja California, México, to arrange for legal residency; as a bracero, his primary responsibility was to feed and care for livestock; he initially returned to Empalme, Sonora, México, and he waited for fifteen days while he was sent money by his employer in the states on the condition that he return to work for the money he was given; in Mexicali, Baja California, he passed as a specialized worker; he was medically examined, and the next day he went to work; his employer had a list of workers’ names, which allowed men to pass much more quickly; while working illegally, he picked cotton, and he was treated horribly, including being severely underpaid; he goes on to describe the daily routines, duties, housing, provision, treatment, payments, remittances, friendships, and recreational activities; instead of writing letters home, he was fortunate enough to visit his wife in Mexicali, on a regular basis; he and other workers would often take turns leaving the camp in the evenings; later, he was able to establish residency for his wife; he goes on to detail the work he did after the program; overall, his memories of having been a bracero are positive, because he was able to work legally, become a legal resident, and ultimately a citizen.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Andrejal briefly describes his family; for a time he worked illegally in California, but his employer helped him become a bracero toward the end of 1958; he then completed an eighteen month contract; his boss wanted him to drive, but as a bracero he was not allowed to, so he was sent to Tijuana, Baja California, México, to arrange for legal residency; as a bracero, his primary responsibility was to feed and care for livestock; he initially returned to Empalme, Sonora, México, and he waited for fifteen days while he was sent money by his employer in the states on the condition that he return to work for the money he was given; in Mexicali, Baja California, he passed as a specialized worker; he was medically examined, and the next day he went to work; his employer had a list of workers’ names, which allowed men to pass much more quickly; while working illegally, he picked cotton, and he was treated horribly, including being severely underpaid; he goes on to describe the daily routines, duties, housing, provision, treatment, payments, remittances, friendships, and recreational activities; instead of writing letters home, he was fortunate enough to visit his wife in Mexicali, on a regular basis; he and other workers would often take turns leaving the camp in the evenings; later, he was able to establish residency for his wife; he goes on to detail the work he did after the program; overall, his memories of having been a bracero are positive, because he was able to work legally, become a legal resident, and ultimately a citizen.
Creator
Díaz, Alejandra
Andrejol, Horacio
Date
2008-01-04
Subject
bracero
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
spa
title (Spanish)
Horacio Andrejol
creator (Spanish)
Díaz, Alejandra
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Duration
34:57
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
Interviewer
Díaz, Alejandra
Interviewee
Andrejol, Horacio
Location
Tucson, Arizona
File Name Identifier
Andrejol_AZ008
Citation
Díaz, Alejandra and Andrejol, Horacio, “Horacio Andrejol,” Bracero History Archive, accessed May 18, 2024, https://braceroarchive.org/items/show/664.