Héctor Ponce
Title
Héctor Ponce
Description
Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee: Héctor Ponce was born on April 1, 1933, in Valle de Zaragoza, Chihuahua, México; both of his parents worked in agriculture; he was formally educated through the fifth grade; sometime later, he traveled to Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México, where he enlisted in the bracero program; as a bracero, he worked in the fields of Nebraska and North Dakota, and he dispensed coal for heaters in Michigan; independent of the program, he also worked for Chevrolet while in Michigan; he later legalized his residency, and he ultimately became a United States citizen.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Ponce very briefly discusses his family and childhood; as a bracero he picked beets in Nebraska, peppers in North Dakota, and dispensed coal for heaters in Michigan; overall, he had great working relationships with his employers; while in Michigan, he was employed by a group of brothers who treated him extremely well; they often invited him into their home, and they offered to help arrange for his residency in the hopes that he would stay to work there permanently; he also relates a story about how his employer in Nebraska was intent on finding him a girlfriend; he goes on to discuss wages, living and working conditions, provisions, language barriers, communication with his family, and community attitudes toward him and other workers; in addition, he describes his experience with immigration personnel; independent of the program, he also worked for Chevrolet while in Michigan; he concludes by commenting on his fondness for the United States and how working with the bracero program changed his life.
Summary of Interview: Mr. Ponce very briefly discusses his family and childhood; as a bracero he picked beets in Nebraska, peppers in North Dakota, and dispensed coal for heaters in Michigan; overall, he had great working relationships with his employers; while in Michigan, he was employed by a group of brothers who treated him extremely well; they often invited him into their home, and they offered to help arrange for his residency in the hopes that he would stay to work there permanently; he also relates a story about how his employer in Nebraska was intent on finding him a girlfriend; he goes on to discuss wages, living and working conditions, provisions, language barriers, communication with his family, and community attitudes toward him and other workers; in addition, he describes his experience with immigration personnel; independent of the program, he also worked for Chevrolet while in Michigan; he concludes by commenting on his fondness for the United States and how working with the bracero program changed his life.
Creator
Ley-Alarcón, Karim
Ponce, Héctor
Date
2005-11-12
Subject
Bracero
Contributor
Cristóbal Borges
Rights
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Language
spa
title (Spanish)
Héctor Ponce
creator (Spanish)
Ley-Alarcón, Karim
contributor (Spanish)
Cristóbal A. Borges
Rights Holder
Institute of Oral History, The University of Texas at El Paso
Original Format
Mini Disc
Duration
32:09
Bit Rate/Frequency
24 bit
96 k
96 k
Interviewer
Ley-Alarcón, Karim
Interviewee
Ponce, Héctor
Location
El Paso, Texas
Time Summary
[Mins 0:00-2:33; Introduction] Héctor Ponce was born on April 1, 1933 in Valle Zaragoza, Chihuahua, México. His parents worked in agriculture. He attended school until the fifth grade. Héctor received his contract in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México. Before he was contracted he worked in agriculture in Valle Zaragoza and was unmarried.
[Mins 2:34-3:44; The United States] Héctor remarks that he liked the way that the United States treated people. He says that his life was better in the United States because he and his father had no money in México. He has worked most of his life in the United States.
[Mins 3:45-9:58; Bracero Work] Héctor states that his bosses cared greatly for him and would tell him that they did not want him to return to México after his contract was finished. Héctor worked for a group of brothers in [Perry,] Michigan dispensing coal for heaters. Before that, he had picked peppers in North Platte, North Dakota. He describes his life as a Bracero as very good. Héctor was paid weekly. Héctor’s growers gave him a house to live in, took him out to eat, invited him to their homes, and wanted to legalize his residency so that he could work for them permanently [unclear whether his residency was actually legalized at that time]. There was hardly any Spanish spoken in Michigan. Héctor worked for the brothers in Perry until he “deserted them” and went to live with a woman in Saginaw, Michigan where he worked for Chevrolet. Héctor also worked as a Bracero in Nebraska. He explains that the growers in Nebraska were intent on finding him a girlfriend to live with, but at the end of his contract he returned to México to comply with the law.
[Mins 9:59-11:04; Food and Recreation] The Braceros would cook communally, each making a different part of the meal. Héctor does not remember any recreational activities. He first became familiar with the television in Michigan.
[Mins 11:05-13:04; Documentation] Héctor states that growers also hired undocumented workers, but that the Braceros had no negative feelings toward them. He repeats that his bosses in Perry loved him very much. He states that the authorities never entered the worksites to look over documentation.
[Mins 13:05-15:34; Working Conditions] Héctor would communicate with his family in México by writing letters, but did not write often. His family never came to visit him. Héctor remarks that the cold never bothered him because he had good heaters. He would work six days a week and have Sunday free. On Sundays, the bosses would take Héctor to church and then out to eat. Héctor would work about six or seven hours a day. He remembers that the bosses would feed him eggs and toast in the morning.
[Mins 15:35-16:34; Dating] Héctor’s bosses would bring young American women by the house to set him up on dates. Héctor and the young American women would go to movies, but he was not able to communicate with them since he did not know English and they did not know Spanish. He relates that he was treated very well at both the movie theater and on the street.
[Mins 16:35-18:50; Living Conditions] Héctor states that his living arrangements were in good condition since everything was brand new. The bathrooms had drains in them. His bosses’ wives would wash his clothes for him. Héctor did not buy a single thing. His bosses provided him with towels, soap, and toothbrushes, among other things. His bosses also employed a teacher from Detroit, Michigan to teach Héctor English at night.
[Mins 18:51-21:05; Payment] Héctor worked with one other man [unclear whether this is a Bracero or not] who also spoke Spanish. His bosses wanted Héctor to work in their store permanently. Héctor was paid seventy dollars a week in cash. He would send a small amount to his mother through the mail and keep the rest for himself. Héctor explains that after the other Braceros’ contracts were through, his bosses kept him to work for them. He relates that his payment was always correct and on time. During Christmas, Héctor would receive a small bonus, and would be invited to the bosses’ party. Héctor says that he never had any problems while he was working there.
[Mins 21:06-23:09; Community Relations] Héctor states that he was very much appreciated in Perry, and that the sheriff would always say hello to him. He describes eating donuts and drinking coffee with the Americans. Héctor says that he never had any problems due to racism. He recalls that he never even became ill while in Perry. He remembers driving in circles on the iced-over lakes during the cold winters.
[Mins 23:10-24:57; Friends] Héctor describes the Spanish-speaking man who worked with him in Perry. He was married and lived in a trailer. He would invite Héctor over for dinner and take him to the lakes. The boat from Perry to Lansing, Michigan cost fifty-five cents. Héctor relates that in 1953 or 1954 Lansing only had one Mexican restaurant.
[Mins 24:58-26:42; Chevrolet and INS] Héctor speaks about working for Chevrolet. Due to his work there, he now receives social security. There were many Mexicans that worked at Chevrolet. Héctor remarks that Spanish music was hardly ever heard in Saginaw. Eventually, the INS told Héctor that if he returned voluntarily to México his undocumented status would not be recorded. Héctor returned to México and legalized his residency in the United States.
[Mins 26:43-28:11; Nebraska] Héctor states that he was treated very well in Nebraska. There, he worked with beets. He was paid one dollar a day.
[Mins 28:12-29:48; American Citizenship and California] Héctor became an American citizen two or three years before this interview. He decided to become a citizen because he liked the United States. He is currently receiving a pension from the United States government. Today, Héctor lives in Socorro, Texas. Héctor worked in cementing and tarring for twenty years in California. During that time he was part of a labor union. The union regularly sends him checks.
[Mins 29:49-End; Final Reflections] Héctor left a house in California to his two children. Héctor feels proud to have been a Bracero, saying that it was in the United States that he learned how to work. He remarks that being a Bracero changed his whole life.
[Mins 2:34-3:44; The United States] Héctor remarks that he liked the way that the United States treated people. He says that his life was better in the United States because he and his father had no money in México. He has worked most of his life in the United States.
[Mins 3:45-9:58; Bracero Work] Héctor states that his bosses cared greatly for him and would tell him that they did not want him to return to México after his contract was finished. Héctor worked for a group of brothers in [Perry,] Michigan dispensing coal for heaters. Before that, he had picked peppers in North Platte, North Dakota. He describes his life as a Bracero as very good. Héctor was paid weekly. Héctor’s growers gave him a house to live in, took him out to eat, invited him to their homes, and wanted to legalize his residency so that he could work for them permanently [unclear whether his residency was actually legalized at that time]. There was hardly any Spanish spoken in Michigan. Héctor worked for the brothers in Perry until he “deserted them” and went to live with a woman in Saginaw, Michigan where he worked for Chevrolet. Héctor also worked as a Bracero in Nebraska. He explains that the growers in Nebraska were intent on finding him a girlfriend to live with, but at the end of his contract he returned to México to comply with the law.
[Mins 9:59-11:04; Food and Recreation] The Braceros would cook communally, each making a different part of the meal. Héctor does not remember any recreational activities. He first became familiar with the television in Michigan.
[Mins 11:05-13:04; Documentation] Héctor states that growers also hired undocumented workers, but that the Braceros had no negative feelings toward them. He repeats that his bosses in Perry loved him very much. He states that the authorities never entered the worksites to look over documentation.
[Mins 13:05-15:34; Working Conditions] Héctor would communicate with his family in México by writing letters, but did not write often. His family never came to visit him. Héctor remarks that the cold never bothered him because he had good heaters. He would work six days a week and have Sunday free. On Sundays, the bosses would take Héctor to church and then out to eat. Héctor would work about six or seven hours a day. He remembers that the bosses would feed him eggs and toast in the morning.
[Mins 15:35-16:34; Dating] Héctor’s bosses would bring young American women by the house to set him up on dates. Héctor and the young American women would go to movies, but he was not able to communicate with them since he did not know English and they did not know Spanish. He relates that he was treated very well at both the movie theater and on the street.
[Mins 16:35-18:50; Living Conditions] Héctor states that his living arrangements were in good condition since everything was brand new. The bathrooms had drains in them. His bosses’ wives would wash his clothes for him. Héctor did not buy a single thing. His bosses provided him with towels, soap, and toothbrushes, among other things. His bosses also employed a teacher from Detroit, Michigan to teach Héctor English at night.
[Mins 18:51-21:05; Payment] Héctor worked with one other man [unclear whether this is a Bracero or not] who also spoke Spanish. His bosses wanted Héctor to work in their store permanently. Héctor was paid seventy dollars a week in cash. He would send a small amount to his mother through the mail and keep the rest for himself. Héctor explains that after the other Braceros’ contracts were through, his bosses kept him to work for them. He relates that his payment was always correct and on time. During Christmas, Héctor would receive a small bonus, and would be invited to the bosses’ party. Héctor says that he never had any problems while he was working there.
[Mins 21:06-23:09; Community Relations] Héctor states that he was very much appreciated in Perry, and that the sheriff would always say hello to him. He describes eating donuts and drinking coffee with the Americans. Héctor says that he never had any problems due to racism. He recalls that he never even became ill while in Perry. He remembers driving in circles on the iced-over lakes during the cold winters.
[Mins 23:10-24:57; Friends] Héctor describes the Spanish-speaking man who worked with him in Perry. He was married and lived in a trailer. He would invite Héctor over for dinner and take him to the lakes. The boat from Perry to Lansing, Michigan cost fifty-five cents. Héctor relates that in 1953 or 1954 Lansing only had one Mexican restaurant.
[Mins 24:58-26:42; Chevrolet and INS] Héctor speaks about working for Chevrolet. Due to his work there, he now receives social security. There were many Mexicans that worked at Chevrolet. Héctor remarks that Spanish music was hardly ever heard in Saginaw. Eventually, the INS told Héctor that if he returned voluntarily to México his undocumented status would not be recorded. Héctor returned to México and legalized his residency in the United States.
[Mins 26:43-28:11; Nebraska] Héctor states that he was treated very well in Nebraska. There, he worked with beets. He was paid one dollar a day.
[Mins 28:12-29:48; American Citizenship and California] Héctor became an American citizen two or three years before this interview. He decided to become a citizen because he liked the United States. He is currently receiving a pension from the United States government. Today, Héctor lives in Socorro, Texas. Héctor worked in cementing and tarring for twenty years in California. During that time he was part of a labor union. The union regularly sends him checks.
[Mins 29:49-End; Final Reflections] Héctor left a house in California to his two children. Héctor feels proud to have been a Bracero, saying that it was in the United States that he learned how to work. He remarks that being a Bracero changed his whole life.
File Name Identifier
Ponce_NMAH008
Citation
Ley-Alarcón, Karim and Ponce, Héctor, “Héctor Ponce,” Bracero History Archive, accessed November 28, 2024, https://braceroarchive.org./items/show/233.