Effate Loc: El Dorado Hills, Ca.

As I was going through some archived photos I came across this photo of farm laborers in the Imperial Valley. It reminded me of my summers during my high school years. I was your typical poor white kid (about as white privileged as an Appalachian child) sleeping on the floor of a one bedroom house with a mother father and two sisters. My pride of not wanting to wear rummage sale clothing drove me to the fields in 1963 (the year before the Bracero program ended). I worked along side of Mexican laborers hoeing crops with an 18” hoe, picking peaches, prunes, tomatoes, various melons, etc. Looking around I realized this was work that lazy-assed Americans wouldn’t do. Because we incentivize not working at such tedious labor with overly generous programs that discourage hard work. I worked along side these noble men for three summers who were the hardest working people I have ever been influenced by. The Bracero program ended In 1964 and the United Farm Workers Union led by Cesar Chavez, Gilbert Padilla and Dolores Huerta went on strike for primarily Filipinos working in the grape fields of Delano, Ca. This was the beginning of extensive illegal immigration. Interestingly enough they were striking for $1.25 per hour and I was able to average $4.00 per hour doing piece work and the Braceros were out picking me. I know two things, the Bracero Program wasn’t perfect and the UFW was an important movement for farm labor but what I don’t understand is why we can’t have a guest worker program similar to the Bracero Program with the protections of The UFW. The current system exploits illegal labor, drives down wages for those who want work and benefits those who illegally employ.

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Delderby Loc: Derby UK

You had a good education

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I see some local Guatemalan young men on their bicycles at 6 AM every morning going to work. Very dedicated. I have a patient who owns a roofing business here in Florida. The only people he can get to work for him and continue to show up are not American citizens. It is miserable work - in the summer they start at first light so that they can finish in the early afternoon. He says that his workers don't complain and he can count on them showing up. We really need a coordinated guest worker program.

Aldla Loc: Central NJ

Great story but wrong section
Think it should be taught in our schools

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

As you say, Americans won't/can't do such work. The right wing political BS claims the brown people who will do the picking/hoeing/hard work are invaders. but now they are essential workers who MUST risk their health and safety. I'm not one for much religion but the one thing that stuck with me from my time in church as a kid was, "Love thy neighbor as thy self" (Mark 12:31). It's a damn shame that fear and hatred will get some politicians more votes than love and peace ever will. If there is a reckoning I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when the time comes.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice photo.

Aldla Loc: Central NJ

I think some need more religion and less politics

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I lived in the citrus orchards for several years. The pickers camped out where they could and worked very hard. They were always nice to me, although I could understand why some would have been frightened of them.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

No one is required to farm or ranch. They do it for their own reasons and when done commercially the purpose is to return investment to the shareholders. A farmer or rancher could just as easily sell their vast property for residential or commercial development and avoid all of the risk associated with the farming and ranching.

These are both subject to the whims of nature. Huge investments are made and expenses continue to go out until harvest or the sale of livestock and even then they are subject to market prices.

NO ONE is obligated to work on a farm or ranch and they do it on their own free will. Those that are willing to accept low wages for their long hard hours are in fact the source of their own problems. Those here illegally are willing to do anything for nearly any price. All it would take is for ICE to visit the farms during harvest time and round them up and impose the heavy fines on the farm owners....but they won't. The politics prevent it so heads are turned.

In the meantime, Americans benefit from the store prices and the process feeds the nation. It is much the same reason why Americans continue to buy goods made in China yet there is much talk about the jobs we lose to them and how China is growing as a global superpower.

Talk is cheap and actions speak louder than words and that's why nothing in this regard will ever change until the pickers refuse to pick until their wages and conditions improve and until the nation is willing to pay more for their daily meals which of course they will surely go up for the consumer pays for it all in the end.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Your description of the hard life took me back as well to how things were difficult for many poor folks after the war and that farming was a big deal and labor unions were killing-off industries one by one over time and sending our jobs elsewhere. I saw it comming all too soon and remeber Mr. Chavez and his group. Thanks.

Ourspolair

Great photo! At the age of 12 I worked on a farm in the holidays and got the equivalent of a dollar a day (1960 in the UK - US dollar value back then). We worked hard and most of it was fun - I learned to drive a tractor and the agricultural practices of the day. Wasn't fond of picking potatoes, but harvesting in general was great. Got home feeling that I had earned my days' pay. Gave me an incentive to stay in school and get a job which did not entail that much physical work. I think that the political arguments are not justifiable (doesn't matter what country is involved). Greed is the real problem worldwide. It won't happen soon, but everyone should try to make the system better by making the best choices that they can and taking action where they know that they can make a difference.
Stay well and keep on posting!

LESTAHL Loc: Colorado

It isn't that Americans can't do that work, it's because they don't have to do that work. As long as their Uncle Sam will take care of them, why work? Actually, working hard, manually, or mentally, is good for the soul. We should look forward to work. Any work, is better than no work.

LESTAHL Loc: Colorado

It isn't that Americans can't do that work, it's because they don't have to do that work. As long as their Uncle Sam will take care of them, why work? Actually, working hard, manually, or mentally, is good for the soul. We should look forward to work. Any work, is better than no work. Trying to start at the top, leaves only one option everything is downhill after that. Manual labor never really hurt anyone.

Seabastes

For many years my professional work included agriculture. I was going fishing in Washington's Skagit Valley early one morning and noticed broccoli being harvested in a field near the highway. I stopped on the road shoulder and jumped out of my car running to the edge of the field with my camera and 300 MM lens. Several of the farm workers started to run across the field away from the harvesting. They must have though I was from immigration. I stopped photographing and have after all these years have felt shame for causing this situation. Hispanic workers legal or not perform vital service to America's agriculture and our country.