Mixed Media The National Hispanic Cultural Center presents Braceros
BRACEROS
During World War II, the collective Hermanos Mayo, who were pioneers of modern photojournalism, documented Mexican migrant workers in the United States. Known as braceros, these laborers came as guest workers on a short-term basis under agricultural labor contracts. The U.S. farmers whose shoes they filled were away fighting the war. The braceros helped to alleviate production shortages. This little-known chapter of American and Mexican history gets its due in the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s current exhibition, Braceros, which is on view through June 30.
The Hermanos Mayo was founded in 1939 as a photojournalism agency in Spain by refugees from the Spanish Civil War. The collective was comprised of two sets of brothers: Francisco (Paco), Julio, and Cándido, along with Faustino and Pablo. The surname “Mayo” was their nom de guerre. As a text panel in the exhibit explains, the name reflects their commitment to the working class: They were the Brothers of May Day.
The exhibit of 30 black-and-white photographs by the Hermanos Mayo — as well as written narratives, video presentations, and artifacts — tells the story of the Bracero Program. The program was active until the mid-1960s. With the signing of an estimated 4.6 million contracts over a 22-year period, it was one of the largest contract labor programs in the nation.
At 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, the center presents Harvest of Loneliness, directors Gilbert Gonzalez, Adrian Salinas, and Vivian Price’s 2010 documentary on the Bracero Program. Through the testimonies of surviving braceros and their descendants, as well as archival footage, the film provides a timely look at how the program laid the groundwork for a continual influx of immigrant laborers, how the workers were exploited and mistreated, and how their labor was used to undermine farm workers’ unions.
The center’s History and Literary Arts archivist, Anna Uremovich, introduces the film and gives an overview of the exhibition. The film screens at NHCC’s Bank of America Theatre (1701 4th St. SW, Albuquerque), and is a free ticketed event. Tickets are available at the door an hour before showtime. There is also no charge for the Braceros exhibition, which is located in the center’s History and Literary Arts building. Call the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s box office at 505-724-4771 or go to nhccnm.org/exhibitions for information. — Michael Abatemarco