A Harvest of Shame

Reading Cajas de carton and The Earth Did Not Devour Him was almost a similar reading experience to The American Way of Eating. McMillan’s experience in the California agriculture business was similar to what we read in both texts including Rigoberta Menchu’s testimony. After reading Lindsay’s post a few days ago really made me think about the conditions migrant workers are exposed to including the instance in which the workers are being exposed to pesticides. According to California law, it is illegal to expose workers to crops treated with pesticides until at least 4 hours after the crops have been treated. As I commented on Lindsay’s post, I couldn’t find any physical evidence in the form of a California government webpage.
In Cajas de carton, I think the most heartbreaking part about the story was at the end when the narrator was finally getting adapted to his new life in school and he returns home to find that all of their belongings were stashed away in cardboard boxes, perhaps the reason why the piece is titled, Cajas de Carton.
It was awful to visualize the imagery he depicted of young children, one at the age of 9, collapsing of what appeared to be heatstroke.

When I go to Meijer or Aldi and walk by the produce section, I never can look at it the same way ever again. I always wonder how much sweat, blood and tears went into getting that produce to the shelves of that store. What kind of journey did it take? Who risked their lives or even died for me to have my delicious grapes to eat or fresh iceberg lettuce to chop?

Am I the only one who asks these questions or am I overanalyzing this? By reading these pieces for class, these people were robbed of their peace and their pursuit of happiness.

How ironic for that to occur in the land of the free…  

*For reference on the title of this blog please click here.