Ex-Valley resident revisits migrants’ plight in bracero program

While the plight of migrants and their hardships may be all too familiar to many Rio Grande Valley families, many Americans across the country have yet to hear their stories. Valley native Angelica Reyna Brand aims to change that with the publication of her first novel Last Ride on the Ferry (Publish America, $19.95).

Most of the story takes place in Hidalgo County, starting in the 1940s, and follows an Mexican-American family as they struggle to make ends meet while following the migrant trail across America. Adventure, hardships and amusing times unfold as the family travels and lives among migrant camps with braceros and undocumented immigrants. After the family’s patriarch passes away, the family honors their father’s request to have his remains returned to Mexico.

Much of the storyline was culled from the author’s own experiences. Born in Mercedes, Reyna later attended schools in Los Ebanos and Edinburg before marrying and relocating to Indiana with her first husband. “I grew up being a migrant worker, constantly changing schools five or more times a year. I traveled, camped and worked with hundreds of men during the Bracero Program,” she said.

“My father’s job at that time was that of supervising and transporting braceros where they were needed, such as picking cotton in different parts of Texas and Arkansas. Wherever my father went, so did his family.”

Her father was also the inspiration for writing the novel. “I wanted to honor my father for the many things he taught me,” she said.

“Above all to be proud of my heritage and never forget my where my roots lay. Although he only had a second grade education in Mexico, he had so much wisdom, intelligence, talent and kindness.”

Reyna remains proud of her heritage to this day. “I consider myself ‘an American of Mexican descent’ because I was born in America. My origin or descent is Mexican from both parents, but I feel there should be a distinction between their birthplace and mine.”

Reyna spent three years writing the book, and it was not without its challenges.

“It was hard making my novel flow and not confusing to the reader. We were continually moving from state to state, but always ended up in Mercedes, Los Ebanos or Edinburg at end of the year,” she said.

The photographs from the book include some from Reyna’s cousin, Gloria Reyna Chacón. Others are from a collection entitled “Snapshots in Farm Labor Tradition,” first displayed in Mexico City in 1943.

“I was very fortunate to have found (through the Library of Congress) Dr. Howard Rosenberg, from Berkeley University of California who agreed to give me copyrights to use photos of the braceros taken by Hilda Mayer, while working with the Bracero Program,” she said.

Reyna feels the issues her characters face are still relevant today. “I don’t believe too much has changed since my father immigrated to the USA. There are still so many people desperate to come and find work and are searching for a new life in this wonderful country,” she said.

Reyna will read from her book and sign copies from 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Hastings bookstore, located at 4500 N. 10th St., Suite 400, in McAllen. For more information call the bookstore at 972-1276.

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Martin Winchester is a book critic for The Monitor. He is an English teacher at the IDEA Academy in Donna. Send comments to mwinchester@ideapublicschools.org.