Harvest of Shame

By: Young Jun Kim

Many Americans are lucky to have fruits and vegetables all day in twelve months a year. It is
that about estimated three quarters of a million women, children, and men are going around U.S. to
pick. In Washington State, they pick asparagus, strawberries, citrus fruit in Florida, apples in New York,
and many kinds of vegetables in California. These laborers are called Migrant Farm Workers because
they move from place to place. These Farmers prefer permanent fulltime, but unfortunately, one out of
ten are available.

During the day work, they must bend and stoop under blazing sun; it was strenuous work. They
started working at seven in the morning to seven at night. For break, they only have a short twenty-
minute lunch break. Since these jobs are considered menial and have low wages, they are paid only
when they work. If you are sick or absent, you will not get paid. They do not have enough adequate
medicals treatment if there ill or injured.

Children suffer the most from this job. Their educations are disrupted because they constantly
move from school to school. Only ten out of one graduate high school. The children drop out of school
to work in the field along with their parents. Other problem are the migrant’s children’s’ higher rate of
cancer; it is 12 times the normal rate of average children, because they are exposed to chemical
pesticides on the crops.

In 1960s, the migrant farm workers in California began a Union to provide better working
condition, but the growers ignored their demands. Two Mexican American leader, Cesar Chaves, Dolores
Fernandez Huerta, formed the union called the United Farm Workers of America. When the growers
ignored the Union, the workers boycotted, formed organized march, and led to some violent clashes.
Most growers capitulated by 1966 and recognized the union. Despite the Union’s efforts, the conditions
only slightly improved from the 1960s. Many new projects were formed like the East Coast Migrant
Head Start Project, they established childcare center for migrants in 1974 and until now. By 2002, there
are eighty-six centers in 12 states. This helped to improve certain area, but more programs are urgent in
need. Educational program can decrease illiteracy among the migrant farm workers. Outreach programs
can improve migrant workers’ living conditions. Many live without running water or electricity. To
provide adequate hovel for the migrant families.

In 1960, a film about migrant farm workers shocked the whole nation. Now and then, there is not much
different. The film was named “Harvest of Shame”