Ramona Acosta
Title
Ramona Acosta
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Ramona Acosta was born on October 13, 1928, in Phoenix, Arizona; her parents migrated to the United States illegally, where they had three children, of which Ramona was the eldest; when she was roughly five years old, her father was deported, and as a result, they all moved to México, where the family continued to grow; eight years later, Ramona returned to the United States, and shortly thereafter she started working in the fields alongside braceros; consequently, some of her cousins were braceros as well.
Summary of Interview: Ms. Acosta vividly describes her family and childhood; when she was roughly five years old, her father was deported, and as a result, the family moved to México; eight years later, Ramona returned to the United States at the bidding of her maternal grandparents; shortly thereafter, she started working in order to help support her family, including her parents, who were still in México; she labored in the fields picking and packing a variety of fruits and vegetables; although she had several employers, she explains that braceros and locals worked side by side; they had the same types of jobs and received the same pay and treatment; she goes on to describe the braceros as diligent, respectful, and amicable; consequently, there were a number of women who also worked in the fields, and they completed all the same tasks as the men; she also talks about her three cousins, who were braceros, and how their employers helped them immigrate to the United States; moreover, she details spending time with the braceros on weekends in stores, at the drive-in movies, or just listening to music and talking; in addition, she also discusses an incident where a group of braceros were driving into town on a bus, and it crashed, resulting in a large number of men dying; it was difficult to gauge the reactions of other braceros and workers, because at the time, radio and television were not used as a means of mass communication; therefore, many of the men’s bodies remain unclaimed, and they were buried in unnamed tombs; she concludes by stating that the bracero program had a positive affect on the city, in general, and on the nation as a whole.
Summary of Interview: Ms. Acosta vividly describes her family and childhood; when she was roughly five years old, her father was deported, and as a result, the family moved to México; eight years later, Ramona returned to the United States at the bidding of her maternal grandparents; shortly thereafter, she started working in order to help support her family, including her parents, who were still in México; she labored in the fields picking and packing a variety of fruits and vegetables; although she had several employers, she explains that braceros and locals worked side by side; they had the same types of jobs and received the same pay and treatment; she goes on to describe the braceros as diligent, respectful, and amicable; consequently, there were a number of women who also worked in the fields, and they completed all the same tasks as the men; she also talks about her three cousins, who were braceros, and how their employers helped them immigrate to the United States; moreover, she details spending time with the braceros on weekends in stores, at the drive-in movies, or just listening to music and talking; in addition, she also discusses an incident where a group of braceros were driving into town on a bus, and it crashed, resulting in a large number of men dying; it was difficult to gauge the reactions of other braceros and workers, because at the time, radio and television were not used as a means of mass communication; therefore, many of the men’s bodies remain unclaimed, and they were buried in unnamed tombs; she concludes by stating that the bracero program had a positive affect on the city, in general, and on the nation as a whole.
Creator
Díaz, Alejandra
Acosta, Ramona
Date
2008-01-09
Subject
Labored in fields alongside braceros
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
spa
title (Spanish)
Ramona Acosta
creator (Spanish)
Díaz, Alejandra
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Duration
57:54
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
Interviewer
Díaz, Alejandra
Interviewee
Acosta, Ramona
Location
Phoenix, Arizona
File Name Identifier
Acosta_AZ001
Citation
Díaz, Alejandra and Acosta, Ramona, “Ramona Acosta,” Bracero History Archive, accessed November 22, 2024, https://braceroarchive.org/es/items/show/654.