Seasonal Farm Laborers Program. - Defiant braceros: how migrant workers fought for racial, sexual, and political freedom

This book was written with the support of many communities. As an undergraduate, I was fortunate enough to take a class with someone who would change the course of my life. Matt Garcia introduced me to bracero history in an academic setting, and I owe him a debt of gratitude for all of the time and energy he spent preparing me to write this book. Vicki Ruizs generous guidance broadened my scholarship. Kristin Hoganson and Adrian Burgos provided thoughtful edits, feedback, and, most of all, unwavering mentorship. Natalia Molina, Jason Ruiz, Jos Alamillo, and Anitra Grisales engaged in my ideas and helped map out new terrains. Stephen Pitti and George Sanchez graciously transformed this project. Near and dear to my heart is my University of Texas community: Gilberto Rosas, Korinta Maldonado, Isabella Seong Leong Quintana, Pablo Gonzlez, Nancy Rios, Fernanda Soto, Jamahn Lee, Jennifer Njera, and Peggy Brunache. At Brown University, I was also fortunate to receive amazing guidance from Evelyn Hu-Dehart, Ralph Rodriguez, Steven Lubar, Elliot Gorn, and Susan Smulyan. Felicia Salinas, Marcia Chatelain, Matt Delmont, Jessica Johnson, Monica Martinez, Monica Pelayo, and Eric Larson made my time on the East Coast memorable. Sarah Wald was a great virtual writing partner, checking in and keeping me focused. My colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign created an environment of open support: Ricky Rodriguez, Fiona Ngo, Lisa Cacho, David Coyoca, Isabel Molina, Soo Ah Kwon, Jonathan Inda, Julie Dowling, Alejandro Lugo, Edna Viruell-Fuentes, and Sandra Ruiz. Andrew Eisen and Veronica Mendez worked hard to digitize documents, track down footnotes, and secure copyrights. University of Illinois graduate students Raquel Escobar, Carolina Ortega, and Juan Mora and undergraduate Emmanuel Salazar kept me on my toes. Many others helped me with advice and support: Bill Johnson-Gonzlez, Simeon Man, Julie Weise, Geraldo Cadava, Kathleen Belew, Michael Innis-Jimnez, Lori A. Flores, and Perla Guerrero. This project was funded by the University of Illinois, the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Formby Research Fellowship at Texas Tech University, Historical Society of Southern California, Smithsonian Institution, the Mexico-North Research Network, and Brown University.

None of this would be possible without the Bracero History Project and the collective effort it took to get it up and running, from folks at George Mason Universitys Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media and the University of Texas at El Pasos Institute of Oral History to Brown Universitys Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Amazing people came together to document extraordinary experiences, and I was fortunate enough to work alongside Kristine Navarro, Steve Velasquez, Peter Liebhold, Anais Acosta, Sharon Leon, and Alma Carrillo. Their commitment to public history continues to inspire me. I am also indebted to every person who collaborated with the project and recognized that these oral histories are important. I also want to thank every community member, undergraduate student, and graduate student who was committed to this endeavor and pressed the record button, asked great questions, and captured these oral histories. Most of all, the Bracero History Project thrived because of individuals who shared their stories and went on record to make sure this history was remembered.