In regards to the Cycle of Poverty document, misery and suffering was the way of life to the farmers thus resulting to Mr. Juarez, a worker writing a testimony to the Senate expressing the problems and experiences of the farmworkers. (“The Cycle of Poverty”: Mexican-American Migrant Farmworkers Testify before Congress NP). Essentially, in the 20th century, the large-scale farming displaced not only the owners of the farms and the families but also the tenant farmers with hand-labor being the most cost-effective activity to carry out. Therefore, the seasonal system resulted in the farmers traveling regularly. As such, the farmers became a subject of exploitation, poor and unfavorable living and working conditions, and low wages. The group of workers that became vulnerable included the Mexican- Americans, Puerto Ricans, and African- Americans among others.
As well, the farmworkers were not included in the 1935 National Labor Relations Act that entailed the rights of the industrial workers, thus the farmworkers continued to be exploited. Additionally, despite the increase in the consumption of the fresh fruits in America that demanded hand labor, the farmworkers continued to live in poverty. In addition to, only the state of California that enacted the rights Act in order to protect the farmworkers. Therefore, the poor conditions resulted in the farmworkers tabling the problems to the Senate in the year 1969. The document composed of Mrs. Kruger and Mr. Juarez’s testimonies explaining the life and experiences that the farmworker migrants went through.
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In essence, at the time the document was presented to the Senate, it is an indication that life was a misery to the migrant farmworkers. The kind of life that is illustrated in the document called for attention and urgency in reforming the Acts and programs to cater for the migrant farmworkers. According to the testimonies, the migrant farmworkers suffer from economic and social deprivation. Mr. Juarez claimed that first, migrant workers rely on the unpromising crops and when depleted due to the poor weather conditions, migration had to take place and saving little money was a problem. Second, Juarez argued that in Florida, he and the family could be subjected to poor living conditions, for instance, a pigpen infested with rats with high rents. Third, the employment relationships became problematic as the migrant farmworkers were subjected to low wages, abuse, and exploitation, and at times overcharged during transportation. Fourth, due to the increased migration, the farmworkers were deprived of the social service amenities for instance medical care and vocational rehabilitation.
As well, Mr. Juarez argued that children had to drop out of school in order to assist in the fields and perform the house chores when mothers are in the fields, therefore, children suffered along too. Mr. Juarez complained about the social injustices imposed on the migrant farmworkers as they are discriminated upon in regards to access to the healthcare services and welfare. In addition to, it was evident that the farmworker migrants would be sold into slavery as in the conversation Senator Bellmon asked, “You mentioned you were sold to a sugar beet company?” As such, Mr Juarez affirmed that the sugar beet company in the Ohio city demanded labor, however, they could not work due to the heavy downpour. He urged both the society and the system to recognize the fact that the migrant farmworkers in spite of being illiterate, unhealthy, and exhausted largely contributed to the wellness of the States, for instance, food and clothing.
Additionally, Mr. Juarez asserts that the migrants composed of various Americans regardless of religion, race, and color. The slave labor system that had become inherent by the farmworker’s children should be abolished as they still engage in businesses and farming. As well, Mr. Juarez asserts that power could be the main problem that makes the migrant farmworkers to remain in the same living and poor conditions as Senator Bellmon asks, “Can you tell the subcommittee why migrant workers continue this kind of life? Why don’t they all get out of it?” According to Mrs. Krueger, Mexicans workers are subjected to cheap labor and paid peanuts as much as fifty cents. As well, the workers are forced to migrate as they could not afford the Mexican standards due to unemployment. Additionally, Mrs. Krueger confirms that political power was an issue that needed to be addressed, as Senator Mondale asks, “What about political power issue…?”
In summation, it is evident that the system encouraged the cycle of poverty, therefore, portraying life as a bondage of misery and suffering. The life of not only the migrant farmworkers but also their families is dominated with hunger and malnutrition, illiteracy, wages exploitation, sickness, and children dropping out of school due to the social injustices and discriminatory legislation. However, Mr. Juarez is hopeful that as people come together, justice would prevail and laws that are equal and fair to all would be enforced. Additionally, Mr. Juarez recommends that the migrant farmworkers should be included in the National Labor Relations Act so as to protect the worker’s rights. As well, the Act should provide for compensation laws in regards to the unemployment, provide for the insurance covers, and social amenities. Nevertheless, in order to curb poverty, the discriminatory laws should be curbed, and as well, the government should provide for the poor farmworker migrants by establishing profitable programs to all. As well, the political power structure needed to be addressed as it had been a threat to the farmworkers migrants as they were not included in the decision making thus rendering the workers powerless.
References
“The Cycle of Poverty”: Mexican-American Migrant Farmworkers Testify before Congress. (2007, November 14). Retrieved from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/7024
