Before reading the novel, the students will need some background information on the problems that undocumented workers are likely to experience. Have students to form groups of 2-3 and read Chuck Brodsky's song La Migra Viene. Since Chuck actually worked with undocumented migrant workers and wrote the words to this song at that time, La Migra Viene is a primary source document. Read through the song once or twice silently, then as a team, read it aloud. As you read, record your thoughts and questions on the How to Read a Primary Document handout on written documents. If possible, listen to a recording of La Migra Viene and record your thoughts on the How to Read a Primary Document handout on sound.
 
 

La Migra Viene
by Chuck Brodsky

The mornings were chilly
The air was crisp
As a Striped or a Red
Or a Golden Delicious
A couple of tortillas
Coffee on the run
By the time the sun came up
We'd have half a bin done

The trees were like temples
Was a holiness to 'em
We'd pick out the bottoms,
Then all the way through 'em
Upon a ladder
Out on a limb
The trees were like temples
I liked being in 'em

Fernando amazed me
He was the quickest 18 bins
In a day he could do
I got 9 once
But that was with big fruit
I only worked as hard as I needed to

Sometimes, though
On the nicest of days
Somebody would whistle
And my friends would run away
They were yelling.

La Migra.
La Migra La Migra viene.
Andele! Andele! Run! Run!

They leapt from their ladders
To the next nearest orchard
Spreading the word
That La Migra was coming

The vans brought 'em in
'Til the bus was all loaded
Sometimes whole families
At least you'd have thought
They'd be back the next week
Up on their ladders
Giving new names
The next time they got caught

Sometimes, though
On the nicest of days
Somebody would whistle
And my friends would run away
They were yelling.

La Migra.
La Migra La Migra viene.
Andele! Andele! Run! Run!

They leapt from their ladders
To the next nearest orchard
Spreading the word
That La Migra was coming