The Perez Family from Jalisco, Mexico

The Perez Family from Jalisco, Mexico

alberto perez

alberto perez

You are being asked to contribute your story to the Bracero History Archive, which is developing a permanent digital record of the Bracero program. Your participation in the project will allow future historians, and people such as yourself, to gain a greater understanding of this program and its effect on the people involved.
You must be 13 years of age or older to submit material to us. Your submission of material constitutes your permission for, and consent to, its dissemination and use in connection with the Bracero History Archive in all media in perpetuity. If you have so indicated on the form, your material will be published on the Bracero History Archive website (with or without your name, depending on what you have indicated). Otherwise, your response will only be available to approved researchers using the Bracero History Archive. The material you submit must have been created by you, wholly original, and shall not be copied from or based, in whole or part, upon any other photographic, literary, or other material, except to the extent that such material is in the public domain. Further, such material must not violate any confidentiality, privacy, security or other laws.
By submitting to the Bracero History Archive you release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless the Bracero History Archive and persons acting under its permission or authority, including a public library to which the collection might be donated for purposes of long-term preservation, from any claims or liability arising out of the Bracero History Archive's use of the material, including, without limitation, claims for violation of privacy, defamation, or misrepresentation.
The Bracero History Archive has no obligation to use your material.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

My father, Refugio Villalobos Perez came to the US via the Bracero Program in 1955. He left five of my brothers/sisters and my mother in Santa Maria Transportina, Jalisco for the opportunity to get to 'El Norte' via the Bracero Program. Once established, my father broughy my brothers/sisters and mohter to the US. Three siblings were born in the US.

My father worked many diferent jobs to support his nine children. He ended up working in the SF laborers union until his retirement. He and my mother spend his retiremtn between his ranch in Mexico and his hom ein northern CA.

I am proud of my jefe and the sacrifices he made to make a better life for his famila.

Four of his children attended UC Berkeley and the other five children took on union trades/careers. His oldest daughter, born in Mexico, is a year away from obtaining her PHD. He is the proud grandfather of over 20 grandchilren and recnetly welomed great grand children to the familia. Several of his grandchildren are in college and a grandchild recently graduated from UC Berkeley.

My fathers favorite sayings are:

1. Como un rio, siempre para delante!
2. Tiene uno que trabajar con coraje!
3. Nunca pienses que se te va cerrar el mundo.
4. No tengas miedo dejar un trabajo, el nuevo trabajo va ser mejor.
5. Hay que tener fe.

I carry my fathers bracero card in my wallet as a reminder that I can never give up on bettering what my jefe started.

I am proud of my father and mother and what they did for thier familia.