People of the sun

Other Worlds has partnered with the National Catholic Reporter to publish a 12 part series, titled "Women: Birthing justice, birthing hope."  The columns, collected and edited by Beverly Bell, feature empowered women who offer alternative visions as they birth a new and more just world order.

By Melody Gonzalez.  Farm work is very dignified work, but people are not getting paid what they deserve or being treated like full human beings.

My grandfather always went back and forth between Mexico and the United States, working mostly in agriculture. Meanwhile my dad was back home in Michoacán, working to support the rest of the family, since he was the oldest of nine children. He only got to go up to the sixth grade, and even most of the time he was supposed to be in school he was working. When my dad finally turned 18, my grandfather brought him over. They worked in agriculture together, mostly picking raspberries and cucumbers. As a child I remember my dad always saying, “Who is the one who has to get up so early to break his back? Those damned Americans don’t want to do this work, and look how they pay us to do it.” Read More