Hispanic Migrant Workers in 20th Century California

Migrant Migrant Workers Workers During the 20th century, Hispanic Americans the majority of whom were Mexican Americans made up the largest minority group in California. One-half million Mexicans migrated to the United States during the 1920s, with more than 30 percent settling in California.

Employers viewed Mexican workers as desirable Employers viewed Mexican workers as desirable because they did not demand higher wages, and because they did not demand higher wages, and they were seen by managers as being satisfied with they were seen by managers as being satisfied with the conditions they worked under the conditions they worked under even when the conditions were very undesirable. conditions were very undesirable. even when the Most families needed for their children to work as Most families needed for their children to work as well. Migrant workers were rarely paid enough to well. Migrant workers were rarely paid enough to afford comfortable housing afford comfortable housing - - even with all capable members of their families working long hours. members of their families working long hours. even with all capable

Every harvest season, an estimated 300,000 Every harvest season, an estimated 300,000 children between the ages of 6 and 14 migrate with children between the ages of 6 and 14 migrate with their parents who have been hired to work in the their parents who have been hired to work in the fields. At about age 10, half of those children begin fields. At about age 10, half of those children begin working, and the number rises sharply as the working, and the number rises sharply as the children get older, depriving them of education and children get older, depriving them of education and often endangering their health and safety. often endangering their health and safety. Many of the photographs that you will see show Many of the photographs that you will see show Mexican migrant workers in California agriculture. Mexican migrant workers in California agriculture. Families faced rough working conditions in the fields Families faced rough working conditions in the fields and even worse living conditions. and even worse living conditions.

This 10 This 10- -year old boy has year old boy has been working as a been working as a seasonal migrant farm seasonal migrant farm worker since he was 7. worker since he was 7. Family of migrant workers, 1940s

Migrant workers in Migrant workers in California, 1935 California, 1935

Children of Mexican Children of Mexican migrant workers posing migrant workers posing at the entrance to at the entrance to El Rio FSA Camp, El Rio FSA Camp, El Rio, California, 1941 El Rio, California, 1941 Child for hire, Texas Child for hire, Texas

Family Working in the Fields Family Working in the Fields

Picking Cotton Picking Cotton Tucson, Arizona Tucson, Arizona

Take notice of the homes in the background. Take notice of the homes in the background.

Living Conditions Living Conditions

VOICES from the FIELDS VOICES from the FIELDS This book gives a voice to the children of migrant This book gives a voice to the children of migrant farm workers, [one of] our country s most exploited farm workers, [one of] our country s most exploited and deprived group[s] of people . . . The poems and deprived group[s] of people . . . The poems and interviews in this book relate life as it is and interviews in this book relate life as it is experienced by these migrant children. experienced by these migrant children. -Francisco Jimenez (excerpt from Foreword)