Voices from the Fields : Children of Migrant Farmworkers Tell Their Stories
Author:
Genre: Children's Books
Book Type: Paperback
Author:
Genre: Children's Books
Book Type: Paperback
Leo T. reviewed on + 1775 more book reviews
"Testimony" elicited from several youths, mostly in their late teens and in different circumstances, that seems their authentic voices, although a limited portrait as this isn't a long book. Nice photographs, but no index. There is a bibliography.
I felt the first story, Jose Luis Rios' 'Working in La Fresa' was the strongest, pp.10-17. Mi Familia by Victor Machuca (p.47) notes 'Here it is too expensive to buy a house.' Ms. Atkins' introduction could have mentioned that when Don Lazaro Cardenas became president in 1934 the population was 16.5 million and now is over a hundred millions, overwhelming the resources of that rich country.
A pregnant gal who is hacking away at getting her diploma (no drop outs in this book!) says, "It was my first year of high school. What was hard that some kids at school would look at me. They would say hi, but it was to my stomach, not to me."
One of the guys is sent to independent study, but the editor does not point out that this is usually a dumping ground so the high school can keep their graduation rate looking good.
In the early sixties, before the Immigration Act of 1965 took hold, there were quite a few families or couples, or cousins who would follow the crops for a few weeks but move to those that paid the best, where labor was in demand. This is not explained and apparently doesn't happen anymore as 'outsiders' are not welcomed by those who today work for miserable pay and lousy working conditions for uncaring farmers. They could grow hay and not hire workers if they wanted not to mistreat people. Even circa 1960, something would be given out for lunch.
Early in the 20th C. one would have to set a good table for the harvest crew, otherwise they would go elsewhere. Those who followed the wheat harvest north for week after week had terribly hard days but earned a good stake. There was a couple of hours for the nooning, at the hottest part of the day.
This book is the only one with these voices but tells only part of the story. Most everyone moves to the cities.
I felt the first story, Jose Luis Rios' 'Working in La Fresa' was the strongest, pp.10-17. Mi Familia by Victor Machuca (p.47) notes 'Here it is too expensive to buy a house.' Ms. Atkins' introduction could have mentioned that when Don Lazaro Cardenas became president in 1934 the population was 16.5 million and now is over a hundred millions, overwhelming the resources of that rich country.
A pregnant gal who is hacking away at getting her diploma (no drop outs in this book!) says, "It was my first year of high school. What was hard that some kids at school would look at me. They would say hi, but it was to my stomach, not to me."
One of the guys is sent to independent study, but the editor does not point out that this is usually a dumping ground so the high school can keep their graduation rate looking good.
In the early sixties, before the Immigration Act of 1965 took hold, there were quite a few families or couples, or cousins who would follow the crops for a few weeks but move to those that paid the best, where labor was in demand. This is not explained and apparently doesn't happen anymore as 'outsiders' are not welcomed by those who today work for miserable pay and lousy working conditions for uncaring farmers. They could grow hay and not hire workers if they wanted not to mistreat people. Even circa 1960, something would be given out for lunch.
Early in the 20th C. one would have to set a good table for the harvest crew, otherwise they would go elsewhere. Those who followed the wheat harvest north for week after week had terribly hard days but earned a good stake. There was a couple of hours for the nooning, at the hottest part of the day.
This book is the only one with these voices but tells only part of the story. Most everyone moves to the cities.
