Beneath the slideshow below are captions that are accessible for screen readers.
The Bracero Program (1942–1964) was one of the most significant labor agreements in U.S. history, reshaping migration, agriculture, and labor relations in both the United States and Mexico. Born out of necessity during World War II, the program emerged from a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments to address labor shortages in agriculture and railway maintenance. As millions of American men left to fight overseas, a steady influx of Mexican laborers—referred to as braceros, meaning "person who works with their arms"—filled crucial roles in fields and railroads across the United States.
Over its 22-year history, the Bracero Program brought an estimated 4.6 million Mexican men into the U.S. workforce, often under difficult and exploitative conditions. While the program promised fair wages, decent housing, and humane treatment, many workers faced broken contracts, wage theft, and substandard living conditions. Despite these challenges, the Bracero Program left a lasting legacy on U.S.-Mexico migration patterns and played a key role in shaping Latino history in the United States.
The story of the Bracero Program is a complex chapter in American history, touching on themes of immigration, labor rights, social justice, and civil rights. We hope the posters in this exhibition will introduce you to the program and inspire you to further explore the multifaceted experiences of braceros, the economic forces driving the program, and the profound social impacts it left behind. From its origins during World War II to its controversial end in 1964, the Bracero Program remains a critical lens for understanding immigration, labor relations, and the shared histories of Mexico and the United States.
You can learn even more about the program by visiting the Bracero History Archive (braceroarchive.org), which includes both written and oral histories of the Bracero program. Scan the QR code for a direct link to the site.
