Emery Donovan speaks about the history behind the Bracero program. Donovan mentions the conditions that this program had were harsh but that didn’t stop the men from coming to the United States in search of work. The Mexican government wanted to make sure that their workers were being treated the right way and were able to have new opportunities.
Donovan shines a light on the Mexican economy and the ways in which it had been affecting Mexican citizens. Many of the men who came looking for new opportunities were not financially stable and saw this program as a way to move up economically. There were many physical examinations and screenings before being placed on a job site but it is also mentioned that many of the men who had been denied had been stranded and didn’t receive any aid or transport back to Mexico.
Sources
Donovan, Emery. “Forgotten Voices: The Story of the Bracero Program.” YouTube. YouTube, December 6, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL5d9CWV0Xg&t=211s%27.