Introduction

I never liked my full name: it is Jose Eligio Lebron.  I've never heard of anyone else having Eligio as a middle name; I think I'm the only one.  I'm Puerto Rican to the bone--I was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, on September 20, 1949.

Travel to the Mainland

Mom moved to the mainland when I was about three years old.  My stepfather had come over first and sent for Mom.  My parents sent for my sister and me from Puerto Rico when I was about four, around 1954 or 55.  They moved for the same reason that many folks come to the United States: a better job, a better way of life economically--the traditional land of opportunity.   It was a lot easier for Puertorriquenos to come here because they're citizens and can come and go between Puerto Rico and the United States without any real problems, as opposed to other countries where people have to go through a series of paperwork and legal documentation in order to get permission just to enter. And once they're here, they're here on a temporary basis unless they become citizens.

In order to get the money to move, my parents worked hard and saved.  Mom worked very hard.  She has, I think, a second grade education. She used to work in a tobacco place, rolling cigars.  My stepfather used to be a businessman, with  his own grocery store for years.  In Philadelphia, Mom worked in a knitting mill.  Knitting mills were a basic form of employment in Philadelphia--there were many throughout the city, but they're closing down now.  My mother worked in one that used to be at Second and Allegheny, where the Kentucky Fried Chicken is now. She worked there for about 20, 25 years.