Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964
Lecture Series
Bittersweet Harvest, a bilingual exhibition, explores the Bracero Program, the largest guest worker program in American history. In addition to the exhibit, we're offering this special lecture series. The exhibit and all these related events are free and open to the public.
"The Braceros: Guest Workers, Settlers, and Family Legacies"Date & Time: Wednesday, March 24th, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza Galeria, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Speaker: Dr. Paul Lopez, Professor of Sociology, California State University, Chico
Sponsored by The Cesar Chavez Community Action Center and the Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff Association, San José State University.
"The Arhoolie Foundation's Frontera Collection"Date & Time: Thursday, April 8th, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza Galeria, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Speakers: Chris Strachwitz and Tom Diamant, The Arhoolie Foundation
Description: An illustrated synopsis of the Arhoolie Foundation's Strachwitz Frontera Collection of Mexican and Mexican American recordings from 1908 to the 1980s with musical and visual examples, with special focus on corridos and rancheras dealing with the Bracero Program. The presentation will also give an overview of the incredible richness and wide ranging musical and cultural heritage contained in these old 78 and 45 rpm recordings from the early 1900s to the dawn of the CD era in the 1980s. The collection's repertoire focuses on the vernacular and includes the evolution of mariachis, bandas, accordion soloists and conjuntos, solo, duet and trio vocalists of many styles, comedy sketches, orquestas of various sizes, as well as the many dance and song styles such as polkas, boleros, waltzes, danzas, sones, rancheras, canciones, corridos and tragedias, huapangos, cumbias, mazurkas, etc.
Click here to read an interview with Chris Strachwitz.
"The New Braceros: Meat Packing in the Midwest"Date & Time: Wednesday, April 14th, 6:30 pm
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza Galeria, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Speaker: Dr. Carlos Garcia, Professor of Sociology, San José State University
Sponsored by the Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff Association, San José State University.
Panel Discussion: "Mexican Labor, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"Date & Time: Saturday, April 24th, 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza Theater, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Panelists: Dr. Al Camarillo, Professor of American History, Stanford University; Dr. Gregorio Mora Torres, Lecturer Mexican American Studies, San José State University; Nannette Regua, Adjunct Faculty, History, Evergreen Valley College and Co-author of Mexicans In San José; Alberto Carrillo, Human Relations Coordinator, Santa Clara County Human Relations Office
Description: The panelists will discuss The Bracero Program and its impact on Mexican American life today, NAFTA and its impact on Mexican and American labor today, and immigration reform topics. A group of former braceros will also speak about their experiences.
Sponsored by The Castellano Family Foundation and the National Hispanic University Distinguished Speaker Series.
"Women in Mexico's Immigration: A Persistent Legacy"Date & Time: Wednesday, April 28th, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza Galeria, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Speaker: Dr. Julia E. Curry Rodríguez, Professor of Mexican American Studies, San José State University
Sponsored by the Chicano/Latino Faculty & Staff Association, San José State University.
Tables for college and university recruiters and recruiting materials are available:
Contact Elisa Echeverria at (408) 794-6242.
For more information about the exhibit or its related events, please visit www.mhcviva.org, or call (408) 794-6242.
Local exhibit made possible by a grant from the Castellano Family Foundation
Supported, in part, by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José.