Gamez, Trinidad 1989-07-28

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Trinidad Gámez talks about her family, education, cultural issues, work experiences, and difficulties Mexican-American people faced because of the lack of education and work opportunities. She also talks about segregation and exploitation of labor camp workers.

General Interview Information

Interviewee Name: Trinidad Gamez

Additional Parties Recorded:

Date: July 28, 1989

Location: Plainview, Texas

Interviewer: Yolanda Romero

Length:


Abstract

Tape 1, Side 1: Family background; Childhood in Yorktown; Learned from grandmother; Mom worked with her dad because he was not a hard worker; Moved to Waco 1939; Charles Chaplin movies shown at school for only 1¢; Moved to San Antonio because of dad’s medical condition; Trinidad’s different responsibilities at work; Married in 1947 at the age of 18; Moved to Harper.
Tape 1, Side 2: Father-in-law, labor contractor; Labor camps in Harper; Discrimination in Harper; School discrimination; Folk healers.
Tape 2, Side 1: Teacher Aid work; Teacher’s negative attitude; High School, Harper; Importance of parents involved in school; Anglo domination of higher positions; Labor camps in Texas; Labor work contractors, before and after; Effects of field mechanization; Bilingual Education program; O.S.H.A. Program; Working as a Teacher Aid.
Tape 2, Side 2: Graduated from Junior College in 1974, South plains night school; Struggle as mother, wife, student, and worker; Trinidad’s children motivation to study; Teacher Aid Union; Limited opportunities to improve lives of Hispanics; Traditional roles in a family; Challenging traditional roles of women; Helping other women; Judicial system.
Tape 3, Side 1: Working with Texas Rural Legal Aid; 1950, election time and pressure tactics to gain Hispanic vote; Participating in political issues; School board direction, looking for changes in the town; Meeting in Lubbock with Southwest Voter Registration; Fighting for their rights to vote; Americo Gámez (son) and Hispanic organizations; Increasing Hispanic participation; Won a lawsuit against the City Hall Administration; Jesus Moya, Farmer’s Leader; Delia Gámez (daughter) working in Austin; Delia Gámez working in Chicago; Trinidad Gámez and the Texas Rural Legal Aid; Suits against labor contractors.
Tape Three, Side Two: The workers rights; San Lorenzo community, abuse of Mexican families; Ranchers unhappy about Texas Rural Legal Aid; Texas Rural Legal Aid’s cases; Positive changes to benefit Hispanics; Labor workers’ health problems; Children in labor camps; Abuse on labor workers; Trinidad’s future plans.
Range Dates:

Bulk Dates:


Access Information

Original Recording Format: audio cassette

Recording Format Notes: digitized; CD available in Reading Room

Transcript: drafts of Spanish and English transcripts available in Reading Room



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