bracero
Noun: 1. A Mexican laborer admitted to the United States for a limited time to work, especially in agriculture, under a series of U.S. government agreements (1942-1964): The term specifically refers to a participant in the historical Bracero Program, which was established to address U.S. farm labor shortages during and after World War II.
The word "bracero" is a historical term. It is used to refer specifically to the Mexican men who were part of the formal Bracero Program. It is not a general term for any Mexican farm worker in the U.S. * It functions as a countable noun (e.g., a bracero, the braceros, many braceros). * It is often used in historical, sociological, or political contexts when discussing migration, labor history, or U.S.-Mexico relations.
- Noun:
- The bracero traveled north to work in the California fields under a temporary contract.
- The Bracero Program brought millions of Mexican braceros to the United States.
- Historical accounts often describe the difficult living and working conditions faced by braceros.
- As a proper noun in "Bracero Program": When capitalized, it refers specifically to the official series of laws and diplomatic agreements that governed the labor program.
- The Bracero Program had lasting effects on migration patterns and agricultural labor in the United States.
- Bracero Program (Proper Noun): The name of the official U.S. government initiative that employed braceros.
- Guest worker: A more modern and general term for a foreign laborer admitted to a country on a temporary basis to work, often in agriculture or seasonal industries. While a bracero was a type of guest worker, not all guest workers are braceros.
- Contract laborer: Emphasizes the temporary, contractual nature of the work.
- Seasonal agricultural worker: Describes the type and timing of the work but lacks the specific historical context of "bracero."
The term "bracero" is derived from the Spanish word brazo, meaning "arm," implying a manual laborer or "one who works with his arms." Its meaning in English is almost entirely tied to the mid-20th century U.S. government program. It carries connotations of temporary migration, manual agricultural labor, and a specific chapter in international labor history.
- a Mexican laborer who worked in the United States on farms and railroads in order to ease labor shortages during World War II