Adriana Trujillo, an employee of the Greeley History Museum, not only assisted in curating the museum’s recent exhibit, “Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964,” she contributed tools and clothes from her own grandfather, who joined the Bracero Program at 17 years old.
Trujillo shares her grandfather’s story and her hopes for the exhibit in a recent “Latino Northern Colorado” podcast.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know about the history of the Bracero Program,” Trujillo said. “It’s a great way to not only teach people [but] shed light on a history that’s not really talked about.”
“[The exhibit] creates an inclusive space for Mexican Americans, Latinos, in general, because it’s publicizing the importance of the diverse history that has created what the United States is.”
One of her grandfather’s tools Trujillo shared with the museum is a short-hand tool, which required laborers to bend their backs to work the fields. The significance of this tool that many people don’t know is that short-handed tools were employed to keep workers from standing up and slowing down their efforts.
“He would literally break his back,” Trujillo said of her grandfather.
Although the work took an immense physical toll on her grandfather, he never complained. He continued to wake up every morning at 5 a.m., passing along his passion for agriculture to his children and grandchildren.
“He always told us how important work is and how important it is to work for what you want in life,” Trujillo said.
“Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942-1964,” runs through March 11, 2023, at the Greeley History Museum. Visit greeleymuseums.com to learn more.