Chasing the Harvest: Migrant Workers in California Agriculture (Voice of Witness)

**Lives from an invisible community—the migrant farmworkers of the United States**__The Grapes of Wrath__ brought national attention to the condition of California's migrant farmworkers in the 1930s. Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers' grape and lettuce boycotts captured the imagination of the United States in the 1960s and '70s. Yet today, the stories of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children working in California's fields—one third of the nation's agricultural work force —are rarely heard, despite the persistence of wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and uncertain futures. This book of oral histories makes the reality of farm work visible in accounts of hardship, bravery, solidarity, and creativity in California's fields, as real people struggle to win new opportunities for future generations. AMONG THE NARRATORS: **Maricruz**, a single mother fired from a packing plant after filing a sexual assault complaint against her... 'the Grapes Of Wrath' Brought National Attention To The Condition Of California's Migrant Farmworkers In The 1930s. Cesar Chavez And The United Farm Workers' Grape And Lettuce Boycotts Captured The Imagination Of The United States In The 1960s And '70s. Yet Today, The Stories Of The More Than 800,000 Men, Women, And Children Working In California's Fields - One Third Of The Nation's Agricultural Work Force - Are Rarely Heard, Despite The Persistence Of Wage Theft, Dangerous Working Conditions, And Uncertain Futures. This Book Of Oral Histories Makes The Reality Of Farm Work Visible In Accounts Of Hardship, Bravery, Solidarity, And Creativity In California's Fields, As Real People Struggle To Win New Opportunities For Future Generations. Among The Narrators: Maricruz, A Single Mother Fired From A Packing Plant After Filing A Sexual Assault Complaint Against Her Supervisor. Roberto, A Vineyard Laborer In The Scorching Coachella Valley Who Became An Advocate For More Humane Working Conditions After His Teenage Son Almost Died Of Heatstroke. Oscar, An Elementary School Teacher In Salinas Who Wants To Free His Students From A Life In The Fields, The Fate That Once Awaited Him As A Child--page Four Of Cover. Introduction : Look At My Hands / By Gabriel Thompson -- Executive Editor's Note / By Mimi Lok -- Map -- Maricruz Ladino, Produce Truck Driver -- Oscar Ramos, Elementary School Teacher -- Roberto Valdez, Farmworker, Various Crops -- Heraclio Astete, Former Sheepherder -- Rosario Pelayo, Retired Farmworker And Labor Leader -- Fausto Sanchez, Indigenous Program Community Worker -- Jose Saldivar, Irrigator And Pesticide Applicator -- Maria, Pedro, And Guadalupe Ayala, Farmworker, Table Grapes -- Ismael Moreno, High School Student, Part-time Farmworker -- Silvia Correra, Farmworker, Wine Grapes -- Harold Mcclarty, Grower -- Maria Elena Durazo, Labor Leader -- Rafael Gonzalez Meraz, Mayordomo -- Jim Cochran, Grower -- Beatriz Machiche, Head Start Manager -- Appendices. Timeline ; Glossary ; California Farmworker Legal Protections ; California Farmworker Organizations ; Cultivating Fear / By Human Rights Watch. Edited By Gabriel Thompson. Lives from an invisible community—the migrant farmworkers of the United States The Grapes of Wrath brought national attention to the condition of California’s migrant farmworkers in the 1930s. Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers’ grape and lettuce boycotts captured the imagination of the United States in the 1960s and ’70s. Yet today, the stories of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children working in California’s fields—one third of the nation’s agricultural work force—are rarely heard, despite the persistence of wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and uncertain futures. This book of oral histories makes the reality of farm work visible in accounts of hardship, bravery, solidarity, and creativity in California’s fields, as real people struggle to win new opportunities for future generations. Among the narrators: Maricruz , a single mother fired from a packing plant after filing a sexual assault complaint against her supervisor. Roberto , a vineyard laborer in the scorching Coachella Valley who became an advocate for more humane working conditions after his teenage son almost died of heatstroke. Oscar , an elementary school teacher in Salinas who wants to free his students from a life in the fields, the fate that once awaited him as a child. "'The Grapes of Wrath' brought national attention to the condition of California's migrant farmworkers in the 1930s. Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers' grape and lettuce boycotts captured the imagination of the United States in the 1960s and '70s. Yet today, the stories of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children working in California's fields - one third of the nation's agricultural work force - are rarely heard, despite the persistence of wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and uncertain futures. This book of oral histories makes the reality of farm work visible in accounts of hardship, bravery, solidarity, and creativity in California's fields, as real people struggle to win new opportunities for future generations. Among the narrators: Maricruz, a single mother fired from a packing plant after filing a sexual assault complaint against her supervisor. Roberto, a vineyard laborer in the scorching Coachella Valley who became an advocate for more humane working conditions after his teenage son almost died of heatstroke. Oscar, an elementary school teacher in Salinas who wants to free his students from a life in the fields, the fate that once awaited him as a child"--Page 4 de la couverture Lives from an invisible community—the migrant farmworkers of the United States The Grapes of Wrath brought national attention to the condition of California's migrant farmworkers in the 1930s. Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers' grape and lettuce boycotts captured the imagination of the United States in the 1960s and '70s. Yet today, the stories of the more than 800,000 men, women, and children working in California's fields—one third of the nation's agricultural work force —are rarely heard, despite the persistence of wage theft, dangerous working conditions, and uncertain futures. This book of oral histories makes the reality of farm work visible in accounts of hardship, bravery, solidarity, and creativity in California's fields, as real people struggle to win new opportunities for future generations. AMONG THE NARRATORS: Maricruz , a single mother fired from a packing plant after filing a sexual assault complaint against her... More than a million men, women, and children work in American agriculture, and yet their stories are rarely told, their low-wage jobs are not included in minimum-wage ordinances or campaigns, and their work remains unorganized by labor unions. This book of oral histories restores to visibility these workers, by telling stories of hardship but also bravery, solidarity, and improvisation in California's farm fields. The majority of American produce is picked in California, while workers there face wage theft and sexual harassment, pesticide exposure and lack of healthcare, the struggle to find affordable housing, and the special risks endured by the undocumented--as many as half of all farmworkers. The book also tells the story of a new generation of labor activists, who are pressing for a national Bill of Rights for farmworkers.