,*APT] #aa 
,ISL& ,P>ADISE & ,MASS ,TRAG$Y 

#aideaide 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,ROSE ,PESOTTA 

,TEXT 3 

,ROSE ,PESOTTA  

,BREAD UPON ! ,WAT]S  

,*,A,P,T,] #aa 

,ISL& ,P>ADISE & ,MASS ,TRAG$Y  

,9 ,M,A,Y,A,G,U,E,Z ,W,E ,L,E,>,N,$ ?AT 
SOME MANUFACTUR]S ALREADY HAD DIS*>G$ WORK]S 9 SIZABLE NUMB]S4 
,!SE EMPLOYES HAD BE5 WORK+ = A PITTANCE1 & ! EMPLOY]S1 NOT 
WANT+ TO PAY ! 9CREAS$ WAGE PROVID$ UND] ! ,CODE M9IMA1 HAD BEGUN 
LAY+ !M (F4 ,! RE/ ( ! =CE REFUS$ TO />T ?AT MORN+ UNTIL 
! DISMISS$ WORK]S HAD BE5 RE9/AT$4 ,9 C]TA9 O!R FACTORIES1 
IRON]S W]E ASK$ H[ MANY H&K]*IEFS !Y C\LD IRON 9 A DAY4 ,:5 
!Y REPLI$3 0,FIVE DOZ510 !Y W]E ADVIS$ TO D\BLE !IR 
\TPUT4 

,! ,N,R,A (FICIALS !RE OBVI\SLY HADN'T ! SLI<TE/ IDEA H[ TO GO 
AB\T CORRECT+ ! GL>+ 9JU/ICES TO LABOR ON EV]Y H&1 NOR DID 
!Y APPE> REALLY 9T]E/$ 9 LABOR PROBLEMS4 ,!Y W]E GOV]NM5TAL 
(FICE-HOLD]S1 :O HAD BE5 9 A RUT SO LONG ?AT WAT*+ !M AT WORK 
WAS LIKE SEE+ A SL[-MOTION PICTURE ON A MOVIE SCRE54 ,I ASK$ ! ,N,R,A 
5=CEM5T (FIC] 9 ,MAYAGUEZ :AT HE 9T5D$ DO+ AB\T ! WORK]S' 
IMM$IATE GRIEVANCES4 ,HE ADMITT$ HE C\LD DO NO?+4 

,I TOLD HIM WE KNEW EXACTLY :AT WAS GO+ TO HAPP5 9 ,PU]TO ,RICO1 
AS WE HAD BE5 ?R\< IT 9 ! ,/ATES4 ,EMPLOY]S W\LD IGNORE ! ,N,R,A 
& VIOLATE ! ,CODE AT EV]Y TURN4 ,WE W\LD USE \R [N ME?ODS :5 WE 
SAW FIT TO TAKE ACTION2 9 ! LONG RUN ! ,N,R,A ADM9I/RATION W\LD REALIZE 
?AT )\T ! COOP]ATION ( ORGANIZ$ LABOR IT W\LD NEV] BE ABLE 
TO 5=CE ! ,CODE4 

,!N WE 9SI/$ ?AT ! ,N,R,A REPRES5TATIVE GO ) US TO PUT PRESSURE 
ON ONE MANUFACTUR] :O HAD LOCK$ \T HIS WORK]S4 ,NOT EXPECT+ ANY SU* 
DRA/IC ACTION ON ! FIR/ DAY1 ! EMPLOY] WAS FLU/]$4 ,IT WAS ALL 
A MI/AKE1 HE ASS]T$2 HIS EMPLOYES W\LD RETURN TO !IR JOBS NEXT MORN+4 
,I TOOK D[N HIS /ATEM5T V]BATIM & SAID ,I W\LD REPORT IT TO ! WORK]S1 
& IF !Y DECID$ TO RETURN1 ,I ALSO W\LD BE !RE4 

,:5 WE APPE>$ AT ?AT FACTORY E>LY 9 ! MORN+1 ! EMPLOYES 
W]E CONGREGAT$ \TSIDE ! GATE4 ,! EMPLOY] HAD REFUS$ TO LET !M 
5T]4 ,A DELEGATION 9CLUD+ SPOKESM5 = ! LOCAL ,LABOR ,DEP>TM5T 
(FICES1 ,T]ESA ,ANGL]O1 A COMMITTEE *OS5 ! NI<T BE=E1 & MYSELF1 
W5T 9 TO SPEAK TO ! 0PATRON40 

,! EMPLOY]1 EMB>RASS$1 HAD DIFFICULTY EXPLA9+1 BUT F9ALLY GAVE 
! EXCUSE ?AT !RE WAS NOT 5\< WORK = ! :OLE CREW ( #dh PRESS]S4 
0,I WILL LET T5 ( !M WORK TODAY1 & LAT] ,I WILL SEE40 

,BUT NONE ( ! PRESS]S W\LD GO 9 TO WORK UNLESS ALL #dh W]E GIV5 
AN EQUAL %>E1 EV5 IF IT CAME TO ONLY A HALF H\R4 ,AFT] MU* DEBATE1 
IT WAS AGRE$ ?AT ALL W\LD BE REEMPLOY$ ON ,MONDAY4 

,! PRESS]S W]E BOYS 9 !IR TE5S1 YET MO/ ( !M W]E TOO?LESS 
,LACK+ 9COME 5\< TO BUY A M9IMUM ( N\RI%+ FOODS1 !IR BODIES 
W]E BREAK+ D[N BE=E !Y HAD FULLY MATUR$4 

,WE HAD TO SPE$ BACK TO ,SAN ,JUAN1 :]E ! ,C5TRAL ,LABOR ,UNION HAD 
ANN\NC$ A RECEPTION = US ?AT EV5+4 ,TORR5TIAL RA9S OV]TOOK US 
TWICE4 ,WE W]E 9 A T\R+ C> OP5 AT ! SIDES & GOT DR5*$4 ,BUT 
ONE HAD TO GET US$ TO SUDD5 RA9S 9 ,PU]TO ,RICO4 ,I SOON LE>N$ TO C>RY 
BO? AN UMBRELLA & A FAN ) ME4 

,BA!D & 9 FRE% CLO!S1 ,I REA*$ ! MEET+ ON S*$ULE4 ,SEV]AL 
HUNDR$ UNION MEMB]S ATT5D$1 MO/LY GIRLS & WOM5 UND] #c#e4 ,!RE 
W]E /IRR+ SPEE*ES ( WELCOME1 DELIV]$ BY ,S&ALIO ,ALONZO & ,FRANCISCO 
,PAZ ,GRANELLA1 (FIC]S ( ! ,C,L,U1 & ! GA!R+ DISPLAY$ A F9E SPIRIT4 

,NOT UNTIL ,I GOT HOME ?AT NI<T DID ,I REALIZE H[ GREAT A TOLL ( MY 
5]GY ! WEEK HAD TAK54 ,ON ,SATURDAY MORN+ ,I WAS SO EXHAU/$ ,I C\LD 
SC>CELY GET \T ( B$4 ,BUT ,T]ESA ,ANGL]O CALL$ AT #a1 & ,I MANAG$ 
TO R\SE UP1 & WE W5T D[N TO ! UNION HALL4 ,!N1 ) A COMMITTEE 
( #b1 WE PROCE$$ TO SEV]AL FACTORIES TO SETTLE PRICES4 ,SOME ( ! 
EMPLOY]S TRI$ TO BR[BEAT US1 BUT WE /OPP$ ?AT BY TAK+ A FIRM /&4 

,! FOLL[+ ,MONDAY MORN+ ,I W5T ) A DELEGATION TO ! PI] TO 
WELCOME ,SANTIAGO ,IGLESIAS1 ! ,EUG5E ,DEBS ( ! ISL&1 !N ,RESID5T 
,COMMISSION] = ,PU]TO ,RICO 9 ,WA%+TON4 ,HIS HOMECOM+S W]E VIRTUALLY 
A LEGAL HOLIDAY = ! ,SAN ,JUAN WORK4 ]S4 ,AS HE WALK$ D[N ! GANG-PLANK1 
! WAIT+ ?RONG ACCLAIM$ HIM EC/ATICALLY1 ) GREAT *E]+ & 
MUSIC4 ,A PROCESSION FOLL[$ ! DI/+UI%$ VISITOR TO HIS HOME4 

,AS ,RESID5T ,COMMISSION]1 ,IGLESIAS HAD ! /&+ ( A ,UNIT$ ,/ATES 
,S5ATOR1 )\T A VOTE4 ,PORTLY1 CLAD 9 :ITE L95S1 & !N 9 HIS 
SIXTIES1 HIS BRONZ$ FACE1 :ITE HAIR1 & DROOP+ MU/A*E GAVE HIM 
! APPE>ANCE ( A ,SPANI% ,DON4 ,HE HAD COME FROM ,SPA9 AS A Y\NG MAN1 
WORK$ AS A CAB9ET MAK]1 & BECAME ACTIVE 9 ! LABOR MOVEM5T4 ,:5 
! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES OCCUPI$ ,PU]TO ,RICO1 HE WAS ONE ( ! ISL&'S M5 
( 9FLU5CE :O WELCOM$ ! TRIUMPH ( DEMOCRACY OV] AUTOCRACY4 ,ALL 
HIS LIFE HE HOP$ TO SEE ,PU]TO ,RICO ADMITT$ 9TO ! ,UNION AS A /ATE4 

,F\ND] & $ITOR ( ?REE LABOR PAP]S1 ! FIR/ 9 #a#h#i#h1 HE ALSO 
S]V$ AS G5]AL ORGANIZ] = ! ,A ,F ( ,L 9 ,PU]TO ,RICO & AT ANO!R 
TIME AS SECRET>Y ( ! ,PAN-,AM]ICAN ,F$]ATION ( ,LABOR4 ,= MANY YE>S 
HE WAS A CLOSE FRI5D ( ,SAMUEL ,GOMP]S & ,MORRIS ,HILLQUIT1 ! ,SOCIALI/ 
LEAD]1 :O WAS ATTORNEY = ! ,I,L,G,W,U4 ,FROM #aiag TO #aicc ,IGLESIAS WAS 
A MEMB] ( ! 9SUL> ,S5ATE1 & SPOKESMAN !RE = ! COMMON PEOPLE 
( ! ISL&1 :O IDOLIZ$ HIM4 

,SEV]AL DAYS LAT]1 HE 9VIT$ ME TO CALL AT HIS HOME4 ,!RE ,I TALK$ 
) HIM AT SOME L5G?1 & MET HIS WIFE & SOME ( HIS N9E *ILDR54"9 

,!RE WAS NO QUE/ION ( HIS SYMPA!TIC 9T]E/ :5 ,I TOLD HIM :AT 
WE HAD BE5 DO+ & ( ! GRIM ?+S ,I HAD OBS]V$ 9 MY CONTACTS 
) ! WORK]S4 ,I QUOT$ HIM ?AT L9E AB\T 0NO LABOR AGITATORS 
9 ,PU]TO ,RICO0 9 ! ,DEP>TM5T ( ,AGRICULTURE & ,COMM]CE BOOKLET4 

0,IT W\LD BE GOOD10 HE REM>K$1 0IF Y\ W]E TO BE DEPORT$ 
= Y\R ACTIVITIES H]E4 ,V]Y GOOD = ! CAUSE ( LABOR ORGANIZATION40 

,I ASK$ HIM :AT SOLUTION HE HAD = ! ISL&'S ECONOMIC PROBLEM4 

0,CURTAIL ! BIR? RATE10 HE ANSW]$4 0,$UCATE \R PEOPLE1 
& HELP !M RAISE !IR /&>D ( LIV+40 

,ELECT$ ,RESID5T ,COMMISSION] TO ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES 9 #a#i#c#b1 ,IGLESIAS 
CONT9U$ 9 ?AT CAPACITY UNTIL HIS DEA? 9 #a#i#c#i4 ,:5 HE DI$ ( MAL>IA 
CONTRACT$ :ILE ON A T\R ( ,MEXICO1 ,PU]TO ,RICO LO/ ONE ( ITS MO/ 
VALUABLE CITIZ5S4 

,ON MY FIR/ TRIP TO ,MAYAGUEZ1 ,I WAS COMPELL$ TO WAIT 9 ! BO>D+-H\SE 
V]&A = TWO H\RS BE=E ! COMMITTEE FROM ! UNION >RIV$ ) 
! ,F$]ACION C>4 ,AFT] ?AT EXP]I5CE ) ! SL[ ,PU]TO ,RICAN TEMPO1 
,I WORK$ \T MY [N TE*NIQUE4 ,H5CE=? ,I HAD ! DRIV] CALL = ME 
FIR/2 !N WE MADE ! R\NDS & PICK$ UP ! O!RS4 ,NEV]!LESS1 
!RE W]E DELAYS4 

,HEAD+ = ! WE/ 5D ( ! ISL& NEXT TIME1 WE /OPP$ 9 ,BAYAMON 
& TRU/FULLY 5T]$ A ,QUICK ,LUN* RE/AURANT4 ,! GIRLS BEGAN ORD]+1 
BUT MO/ ( ! ?+S !Y *OSE FROM ! M5U W]E NOT AVAILABLE4 ,:AT 
!Y F9ALLY GOT1 />T+ ) DESS]T & 5D+ ) CANN$ BEAN S\P1 
OCCUPI$ !M = AN H\R & A HALF4 ,MEAN:ILE ,I DIPP$ 9TO MY [N LUN* 
BOX1 :I* MY L&LADY HAD PACK$ = ME1 EAT+ LEISURELY & SKIMM+ 
A NEWSPAP]4 

,I PO9T$ \T TO MY COMPANIONS ?AT WE C\LDN'T AF=D TO SP5D SO MU* 
TIME AT MEALS1 & IT WAS AGRE$ ?AT !REAFT] ,T]ESA W\LD HAVE LUN*ES 
PACK$ = ALL ( US4 

,WE PROCE$$ TO ,MAYAGUEZ1 SP5T SOME BUSY H\RS1 /AY$ OV]NI<T1 & 
NEXT DAY MET ) COMMITTEES TO ADJU/ COMPLA9TS4 ,AT ! 5D ( ! =5OON 
,I W5T 9TO ! ONLY DEC5T GROC]Y1 NOT UNLIKE AN ,A @& ,P /ORE1 & 
B\<T PROVISIONS_/TWO LONG ,FR5* LOAVES ( :ITE BREAD1 BUTT]1 SALAMI1 
*EESE1 & A 0H&0 ( ! L>GE/ BANANAS ,I HAD EV] SE54 

,AS WE DROVE \T ( ! CITY1 B\ND = AN EV5+ MEET+ 9 ,PONCE1 
) /OPS BETWE51 ,T]ESA SUDD5LY REMEMB]$ ?AT %E HAD NEGLECT$ TO 
BR+ ! FOOD4 

0,NEV] M9D10 ,I SAID1 0LUN* IS AT H&40 

,WE /OPP$ ON ! ROAD NE> A RIV]1 SPREAD PAP]S ON ! GR\ND1 ATE 
PICNIC /YLE4 ,BUT :5 ,I UNWRAPP$ ! 0L>GE BANANAS10 ! JOKE 
WAS ON ME4 ,! GIRLS HELD !IR SIDES LAU<+4 ,!SE W]E NOT BANANAS1 
BUT PLANTANOS :I* CANNOT BE EAT5 RAW4 ,EV5 :5 COOK$1 !Y TA/$ 
LIKE FROZ5 POTATOES4 

,AFT] ?AT ,T]ESA NE>LY ALWAYS REMEMB]$ ! LUN*ES4 

,UND] ! R\T9E WE HAD MAPP$ \T1 WE BEGAN A T\R ( ! ISL& EA* 
,MONDAY MORN+2 MANAG$ TO >RIVE BY NOON AT ,>ECIBO1 :]E WE CONF]R$ 
) AMIABLE ELD]LY ,DONA ,LOLA1 PRESID5T ( ! UNION !RE1 & O!R 
LOCAL LEAD]S4 ,!N TO ,MAYAGUEZ1 & ?R\< V>I\S SMALL] T[NS2 & 
!NCE OV] ! S\? ROAD TO ,PONCE1 TO ,GUAYAMA & ,HUMACAO4 ,USUALLY WE 
HELD DAILY MEET+S 9 AT LEA/ TWO COMMUNITIES4 

,AT !SE GA!R+S WE PREP>$ ! NE$LE WORK]S = MEMB]%IP 9 
! UNION4 ,AS SOON AS WE FELT ?AT !Y W]E SUFFICI5TLY PO/$1 WE *>T]$ 
,I,L,G,W,U LOCALS & E/ABLI%$ $UCATIONAL DEP>TM5TS1 :I* BEGAN IMM$IATELY 
TO REGI/] MEMB]S = CLASSES 9 P]SONAL HYGI5E1 BIR? CONTROL1 & 
*ILD C>E4 

,FREQU5TLY WE MADE IT A PO9T TO /OP (F AT V>I\S PLACES 5 R\TE 
TO TALK ) ! WORK]S 9 ! HILLS4 ,ALONG ALL ! ROADS !Y W]E TO 
BE F\ND4 ,) V]Y LITTLE CLO?+ ON !IR BODIES1 WOM51 Y\NG & OLD1 
SAT ON ! DOOR/EPS ( !IR ?AT*$ HUTS SEW+ FROM MORN+ TILL NI<T4 
,!Y W]E L>GELY ! WIVES & DAU<T]S ( ! JIB>OS1 :O LABOR$ ON 
! F>MS & SUG> PLANTATIONS_/ :5 !Y C\LD GET WORK4 

,BE=E ! 5D ( ,JULY1 WE >RANG$ TO CONSOLIDATE ! FIVE NE$LE TRADES 
LOCALS 9 ,SAN ,JUAN 9TO A S+LE LOCAL1 ,NO4 #c1 *>T]$ BY ! ,I,L,G,W,U1 
) NE>LY #b1 MEMB]S4 ,UNION HEADQU>T]S W]E !N E/ABLI%$ AT 
,NO4 #a ,B>RIO ,OBR]O 9 ,SANTURCE1 A WORK+-CLASS SECTION ( ,SAN ,JUAN GEOGRAPHICALLY 
COMP>ABLE TO ,H>LEM 9 ,NEW ,YORK4 ,CONSID]+ ! L[ WAGES ( !SE WORK]S1 
WE SET !IR MAXIMUM DUES AT #ae C5TS A MON?4 

,WE'D BE BACK 9 ,SAN ,JUAN ALWAYS ON ,SATURDAY1 & ,I'D CLEAN UP TAG-5DS 
( MY PROGRAM4 

,AIRMAIL CAME & DEP>T$ ?REE TIMES A WEEK2 /EAM%IP MAIL TWICE A 
WEEK4 ,EV]YONE HAV+ ANY?+ TO DO ) ! MA9L& 7,U4,S4,A47 HAD A TIME-TABLE 
9 FRONT ( HIM ON HIS DESK4 ,I SOON GOT US$ TO ! IDEA ( MAIL+ LETT]S 
BY A C]TA9 TIME & EXPECT+ AN ANSW] ON S*$ULE4 

,! ,LAT9-,AM]ICAN CU/OM ( TAK+ ?REE H\RS = LUN* ANNOY$ ME4 
,I HAD TO CALL AT ! ,PO/ ,(FICE = MY MAIL1 & IF ! BUS WAS LATE1 
& ,I GOT !RE A HALF M9UTE AFT] #a#b1 ! DOORS W\LD BE CLOS$1 & 
,I'D HAVE TO KILL ?REE H\RS UNTIL !Y REOP5$4 ,ONE PLACE TO WAIT WAS 
A NE>-BY B> :]E ,I LE>N$ TO DR9K A COCKTAIL KN[N AS ,DELPH9E ,NO4 
#e4 ,! B>T5D]1 ,S5OR ,DELPH9E1 TOLD ME HE HAD DEVIS$ A S]IES ( COCKTAILS 
9 HIS [N HONOR 9 ,HAVANA1 RUNN+ !M UP FROM ONE TO #a#e4 ,I TRI$ !M 
ALL1 & ,NO4 #e WAS MY FAVORITE4 ,BE=E LEAV+ ! ISL& ,I OBTA9$ ! 
RECIPE FROM ,S5OR ,DELPH9E4 

,MO/ ( MY LETT]S TO ! HOME (FICE 9 ,NEW ,YORK1 OR TO FRI5DS 9 
! ,/ATES1 W]E WRITT5 AS ,I SAT 9 B$ 9SIDE ! MOSQUITO NETT+ 9 
MY1BO>D+ H\SE1 ) MY PORTABLE TYPEWRIT] ON MY LAP4 ,:5 ,I HAD CLE>$ 
EV]Y?+ ESS5TIAL1 ,I'D KNOCK (F WORK1 & SAUNT] TO ! ,HOTEL ,CONDADO 
= A SWIM 9 ! POOL4 ,?AT MADE ME OV]4 

,AFT] ONE SU* SWIM1 ,I WALK$ A %ORT WAY ALONG ! OCEANSIDE UNTIL 
,I WAS CLE> ( PEOPLE4 ,SPREAD+ A BLANKET ON ! S&1 ,I /RET*$ \T 
TO READ A BOOK4 ,D>K GOGGLES %IELD$ MY EYES FROM ! SUN ,I READ A HALF 
H\R OR SO1 !N ,I SUDD5LY HAD A FEEL+ ( UNEAS9ESS4 ,PE]+ ?R\< 
! GLASSES1 ,I DISCOV]$ ?AT ,I WAS SURR\ND$ BY A R+ ( NATIVE M5 
& BOYS1 :O KEPT AT SOME DI/ANCE BUT />$ /EADILY4 ,I SAT UP1 REMOV$ 
! GOGGLES1 & GL>$ AT ?IS MALE CIRCLE ) 9DIGNATION4 ,BUT MY UN9VIT$ 
PUBLIC WAS UNABA%$2 NO ONE BUDG$4 ,I PICK$ MYSELF UP & W5T BACK TO 
! BO>D+ H\SE4 ,I DIDN'T APPRECIATE MASCUL9E ATT5TION 9 ! =M 
( A MASS DEMON/RATION4 

,SATURDAY EV5+S ,I F\ND TIME = PLAY4 ,ON SEV]AL OCCASIONS ,I WAS 
9VIT$ BY ,LABOR ,COMMISSION] ,M>T9EZ TO GO ) HIM TO A NI<T CLUB4 
,USUALLY HIS P>TY 9CLUD$ MEMB]S ( HIS DEP>TM5T & ( ! ,FREE ,F$]ATION 
( ,LABOR4 ,! BE/ ( ! NI<T SPOTS WAS ! ,ESCAMBRON1 ON ! OCEAN'S 
$GE4 ,H]E WAS A GAY SETT+1 A BO>DWALK1 A LAGOON BORD]$ BY L(TY COCONUT 
PALMS1 :I* 9 MOONLI<T HAD AN ASPECT ( 5*ANTM5T4 ,H]E1 TOO1 WAS 
A SP>KL+ FLOOR %[1 ) ,CUBAN S+]S & DANC]S & MUSICIANS4 ,EXCELL5T 
FOOD1 ! FAVORITE DI% ( ALMO/ EV]Y ONE BE+ >ROZ CON POLIO 7BAK$ 
*ICK5 & RICE1 AS ONLY *EFS ( ,SPANI% ANCE/RY CAN PREP>E IT74 ,S5OR 
,M>T9EZ & ALL ! M5 ,I MET 9 ,PU]TO ,RICO DANC$ LI<TLY & WELL4 

,ON ,SUNDAYS WE /AG$ OP5 AIR GA!R+S 9 ! RURAL DI/RICTS1 EI!R 
9 SOME VILLAGE OR A GROVE AT A CROSSROADS4 ,ADVANCE NOTICE WAS SPREAD BY 
WORD ( M\?4 ,! WOM5 W\LD COME D[N FROM ! HILLS1 ) !IR FAMILIES1 
(T5 WAIT+ = H\RS UNTIL WE >RIV$1 TO 0LI/5 TO ! UNION40 

0,ACROSS ! SAGA ( ! AGES1 ?R\< ! DRAMATIC *APT]S ( 
ROMANCE & ADV5TURE1 BRAV]Y1 H]OISM1 & M>TYRDOM ! /ORY ( ,PU]TO 
,RICO IS ! /ORY ( CIVILIZATION 9 ITS TRIUMPHANT M>* FROM ,EA/ TO 
,WE/40 ,?US ! OP5+ ( ONE ( ! ,DEP>TM5T ( ,AGRICULTURE & 
,COMM]CE BOOKLETS4 

,BUT ALL TOO PLA9LY ! /ORY ( ?AT M>* ALSO WAS ! /ORY ( UNBRIDL$ 
PR(ITE]+1 ABS5TEE [N]%IP ( AGRICULTURE & 9DU/RY1 M]CILESS 
GR9D+ D[N ( ! POOR4 ,! NE$LE TRADES 9DU/RY1 :I* WAS P>T ( 
?IS VAUNT$ CIVILIZATION1 HAD BE5 ! CURSE ( ,PU]TO ,RICO4 ,EMPLOY]S 
:O PRID$ !MSELVES UPON BE+ 0PIONE]S0 HAD BR\<T MIS]Y 
TO ?\S&S ( HOMES :]E MO!RS & DAU<T]S SP5T DAYS & NI<T4 
RU9+ !IR EYESI<T & LUNGS OV] F9]Y !Y NEV] C\LD HOPE TO WE>4 
,= !IR LABOR !Y GOT ALMO/ NO?+4 

,IMAG9E A WOMAN WORK+ ON COTTON NI<TG[NS1 DO+ ALL ! H&WORK 
& EMBROID]Y1 F9I%+ ! NECK & >MHOLES ) PIP+S1 & = ALL 
?IS WORK GETT+ #af C5TS P] DOZ5 G>M5TS6 ,ONE & A QU>T] C5TS 
P] NI<TG[N4 ,?OSE MAK+ ! MORE EXP5SIVE G[NS MADE AS LITTLE AS 
! O!RS4 

,SM>T ,AM]ICAN WOM5 ON ! MA9L& WORE ?OSE NI<TG[NS ) 5JOYM5T4 
,LET !M TRY WORK+ ON !M = A LIV+1 MAK+ F\R A DAY4444 ,! MAK] 
( SU* G>M5TS C\LD NEV] AF=D TO HAVE ONE = H]SELF1 BUT HAD TO 
BUY ! POORE/ K9D ( CALICO AT TRIPLE :AT IT WAS WOR?4 

,SP5D+ PRACTICALLY ALL !IR TIME SEW+1 !SE ,PU]TO ,RICAN MO!RS 
HAD NO TIME TO TAKE PROP] C>E ( !IR FAMILIES & HOMES1 :I* USUALLY 
W]E NO?+ BUT F\R WALLS & A ?AT*$ RO(4 ,( SANITATION MO/ ( 
! OCCUPANTS HAD NOT ! SLI<TE/ IDEA H\SES HAD LATR9ES4 ,DR9K+ 
WAT] WAS BR\<T 9 L>GE T9 CANS FROM ! NE>E/ BROOK1 & ! FAMILY 
WA%+ WAS DONE 9 ! SAME BROOK4 ,:5 ! MO!R 9T]RUPT$ H] NE$LE 
WORK TO PREP>E MEALS OR ATT5D TO O!R H\SEHOLD DUTIES1 Y\NG] MEMB]S 
( H] BROOD W5T ON ) ! SEW+4 

,FROM LACK ( NUTRITION1 9FANTS DI$ E>LY1 OR GREW UP SUBJECT TO ANEMIA 
& O!R DISEASES4 ,FOOD /APLES H]E CONSI/$ MA9LY ( GRE5 BANANAS 
& SWEET POTATOES1 :I* C\LD BE B\<T *EAPLY4 ,MILK & BREAD W]E 
LUXURIES4 ,9 ! HILLS ! NATIVES LIV$ ON ANY?+ ?AT C\LD BE *EW$ 
REG>DLESS ( ITS NUTRITIONAL VALUE_/SO LONG AS IT FILL$ HUNGRY BELLIES4 

,AS ,I TRAVEL$ 9 ?OSE HILLS1 OV] N>R[ ROADS ?AT SLAVES HAD BUILT 
C5TURIES BE=E1 !IR LUXURI\S BEAUTY REM9D$ ME GREATLY ( ,S\!RN 
,CALI=NIA1 EXCEPT ?AT ! L&SCAPE H]E LACK$ ! VA/ FRUIT OR*>DS 
& VEGETABLE FIELDS4 ,SUG> CANE GREW ALMO/ EV]Y:]E4 ,& ANY C\NTRY 
GIV5 OV] TO SUG> GR[+ IS USUALLY A HUNGRY C\NTRY BECAUSE IT IS L>GELY 
A ONE-CROP C\NTRY4 ,PU]TO ,RICO1 RAIS+ SUG> = EXPORT1 C\LD NOT PRODUCE 
5\< FOOD TO SU/A9 ITS TEEM+ POPULATION4 

,ON ! PI]S 9 ,SAN ,JUAN ONE SAW EXT5SIVE %IPP+ ( GRAPEFRUIT1 P9EAPPLES1 
ORANGES1 BANANAS1 LIMES1 LEMONS1 TANG]9ES1 MOLASSES & COCONUTS4 ,GOV]NM5T 
/ATI/ICS ON PRODUCTION ( !SE COMMODITIES W]E IMPRESSIVE1 BUT IT WAS 
MA9LY = EXPORT4 ,! MASSES ( ,PU]TO ,RICAN WORK]S :O GA!R$ ! 
CROPS & LOAD$ !M ON RAILROAD TRA9S & %IPS RECEIV$ WAGES SO L[ 
?AT !Y C\LD BUY FEW ( ! $IBLES !Y HELP$ RAISE4 

,:5 ! ,F$]AL ,GOV]NM5T DECID$ TO CURTAIL SUG> PRODUCTION 9 ,PU]TO 
,RICO1 #b1 CANE-CUTT]S W]E ?R[N \T ( WORK4 ,DRIV+ ALONG ! ,SAN 
,JUAN WAT]-FRONT ONE DAY1 WE SAW ONE RESULT ,AB\T #b NATIVES1 MO/LY Y\NG 
M51 W]E /&+ ON ONE SIDE ( ! HI<WAY1 OPPOSITE ! PI]1 %\T+ 
& GE/ICULAT+4 

,?9K+ !M ON /RIKE1 ,I ASK$ ! DRIV] :AT WAS !IR GRIEVANCE4 
0,IT IS NO /RIKE1 ,S5ORITA10 HE SAID4 0,A %IP DOCK$ ?IS 
MORN+4 ,IT HAS TO BE UNLOAD$4 ,ONLY AB\T A ?IRD ( ?OSE M5 WILL BE 
NE$$1 BUT ALL >E TRY+ TO GET ON ! CREW40 

,ALL ( !M W]E PLEAD+ DESP]ATELY = A S+LE DAY'S WORK4 

,AS WE W]E ON ! HI<WAYS DAILY1 ,I HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO OBS]VE 
! WRET*$NESS ( UNTOLD ?\S&S ( NATIVES4 ,ON EV]Y H& !RE WAS 
EVID5CE ?AT ! VA/ MAJORITY ( ! ISL&]S W]E SUFF]+ FROM MALNUTRITION4 
,! ,F$]AL ,GOV]NM5T HAD COME 9 ) RELIEF1 BUT ! FOOD IT PROVID$ 
WAS NEV] 5\<1 & ! DI/RIBUTION WAS UNSY/EMATIC4 

,IT WAS SOON APP>5T ?AT :AT !SE UN=TUNATES NE$$ FIR/ WAS CONT9U\S 
EMPLOYM5T1 TO ASSURE !M /EADY & ADEQUATE 9COME4 ,!Y NE$$ SOCIAL 
S]VICE1 $UCATION 9 HYGI5E1 PROP] FOOD & 5\< ( IT1 PLAYGR\NDS 
= Y\NG/]S1 & 9 G5]AL MORE :OLESOME SURR\ND+S4 

,BURD5$ ) L>GE FAMILIES & OV]WORK$ FROM *ILDHOOD1 ! WOM5 
AG$ PREMATURELY4 ,?OSE DO+ HOME WORK 9 ! NE$LE TRADES W]E GRAPHIC 
EXAMPLES4 ,AMONG ! Y\NG WOM5 AS WELL AS ! Y\NG M5 W]E MANY ) 
DEFECTIVE OR MISS+ TEE?4 ,ONE ( \R MO/ CAPABLE ORGANIZ]S1 ,PASQUALA 
,FIGU]OA1 PRESID5T ( ! ,MAYAGUEZ LOCAL1 MO!R ( F\R *ILDR5 & 
NO MORE ?AN #c#e1 HAD ONLY TWO EYETEE? LEFT4 ,9 ?IS & O!R CASES1 
,I WAS ABLE TO >RANGE TO HAVE A D5TI/ MAKE PLATES4 ,ALWAYS ?AT MEANT 
TRANS=M+ A LIFE4 

,?\< MO/ ( ,PU]TO ,RICO'S M5 W]E %ABBY LOOK+1 UND]N\RI%$1 
TOO?LESS1 & ANEMIC1 ,I NEV] SAW A BALD NATIVE4 ,ALL HAD LUXURIANT HAIR4 
,MANY W]E /RIK+LY H&SOME4 ,IT WAS PLEAS+ TO SEE MOPS ( :ITE HAIR 
CR[N+ D>K FACES_/:5 ONE C\LD =GET !IR /RUGGLE TO SURVIVE4 

,WE PICK$ HIM UP ON ! ROAD 9 A D[NP\R4 ,9 ONE H& HE C>RI$ SOME?+ 
9 A SMALL CLO? SACK1 9 ! O!R A LONG /ICK4 ,WE HAD HIM SIT 9 ! 
BACK SEAT4 ,FROM ! FRONT1 TURN+1 ,I C\LD OBS]VE HIM2 B>EFOOT & HATLESS1 
SOME ( HIS RIBS %[+ ?R\< HIS TORN %IRT1 HOLES 9 ,XIS OLD :ITE 
HOMESPUN TR\S]S4 ,I ?\<T ( HIM AS BE+ AT LEA/ #d4 ,HE LOOK$ ANEMIC 
& TUB]CUL>4 

,:]E WAS HE B\ND8 ,HOME_/#a MILES FROM T[N4 ,:AT HAD HE BE5 DO+ 
9 T[N8 

0,I W5T !RE TO SELL A BUN* ( BANANAS :I* GR[ NE> MY H\SE4 
,) ! MONEY ,I B\<T GUAVAS4A 

,H[ MU* DID HE GET = ! BANANAS8 ,?REE C5TS2 & = ! ?REE 
C5TS HE GOT !SE GUAVAS1 P]HAPS A DOZ51 NO L>G] ?AN M$IUM-SIZ$ 
APPLES4 

,:AT O!R S\RCE ( 9COME DID HE HAVE8 0,NONE1 ,S5ORITA4 ,:5 
MY WIFE IS WELL %E DOES SOME NE$LE WORK1 BUT N[ %E CANNOT E>N ANY?+40 
,!Y HAD ?REE *ILDR51 & N[_/HE SMIL$ BA%FULLY_/A F\R? BABY WAS 
COM+4 

,H[ OLD WAS HE8 ,TW5TY4 ,HE HAD BE5 A SUG>-CANE CUTT]1 BUT = TWO 
YE>S !RE HAD BE5 NO WORK4 

,USUALLY HE WALK$ ALL ! WAY TO T[N & BACK TO EX*ANGE BANANAS = 
GUAVAS SO ?AT HIS FAMILY MI<T HAVE ?AT MU* V>IATION FROM ! MONOTONY 
( A BANANA DIET4 

,M5TION ( ! COM+ BABY REM9D$ ME ( A VISIT ,I HAD MADE TO A M9+ 
CAMP 9 ,K5TUCKY 9 MY ,BROOKWOOD DAYS4 ,I WAS A/\ND$ AT ! NUMB] ( 
*ILDR5 9 EA* H\SEHOLD4 ,:5 ,I ASK$ :Y !Y HAD SO MANY1 :5 ! 
COAL-DIGG]S C\LD H>DLY MAKE A LIV+ = SMALL FAMILIES1 ONE ( ! 
OLD] M9]S GAVE ME A PO9T$ ANSW]3 

0,Y\ SEE1 ,MISS1 \R Y\NG M5 HAVE NO?+ ELSE TO DO AFT] A H>D 
DAY'S WORK 9 ! M9ES1 SO !Y HAVE PLEASURE 9 !IR [N WAY1 & IT 
DOESN'T CO/ !M ANY MONEY40 

,AT ANO!R TIME :5 WE W]E DRIV+ AFT] A RA91 ) A GOV]NM5T 
5G9E] 9 ! C>1 WAT] SUDD5LY MADE ! ROAD IMPASSABLE4 ,DRA9AGE 
\TLETS W]E LACK+4 ,WE /OPP$ 9 A COMP>ATIVELY DRY PLACE WAIT+ = 
! HI<WAY TO BECOME CLE>4 

,SOME SMALL BOYS & GIRLS1 POORLY CLAD & HUNGRY LOOK+1 W]E WAD+ 
B>EFOOT 9 ! YELL[ MUD NE>BY4 ,I EXPRESS$ PITY = !M & FE> = 
!IR HEAL?4 

0,WELL1 !Y >E ALL LIKE ?AT10 SAID ! 5G9E]4 0,IF 
!Y SURVIVE = FIVE YE>S !Y GO ON LIV+40 

,HE MI<T HAVE BE5 SPEAK+ NOT ( HUMAN BE+S BUT ( DUMB ANIMALS4 

"9 ,AFT]W>DS ,I WAS TO MEET ! RE/ ( ! ,IGLESIAS FAMILY 9 ,WA%+TON1 
:]E ! NAMES ( ! ,S5ATOR'S DAU<T]S W]E A DELI<T TO MANY4 ,!Y 
W]E3 ,VICTORIA1 ,LIB]TAD1 ,AM]ICA1 ,FRAT]NIDAD1 ,JU/ICIA1 ,PAZ 7,LAURA71 
& ,LUZ4 

,FROM 3 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aidd 3 ,*APT] #aa -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,FEBRU>Y #i1 #bag 3 ,*APT] #aa -- ,ADD$4 

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