Abstract
Cherie Moraga’s play, Heroes and Saints, and Helena Maria Viramontes’ novel, Under the Feet of Jesus, offer readers perspectives on the lives of migrant farm workers in California that challenge the moral imagination and conscience. Both focus on health hazards of pesticides and on the often prohibitive difficulty of getting health care for those who fall ill as a result of exposure. This paper offers a reflection on the direct political and moral appeal these works present to readers who may not see or acknowledge the sacrifices sustained by those whose undercompensated labors are an integral part of our food systems.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moraga, C. Heroes and Saints and Other Plays (Albuquerque: West End, 1994).
Viramontes, HM. Under the Feet of Jesus (New York: Duttan, 1995).
Zimmerman, H. “Poisoned Ground: Heroes and Saints.” http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.18.01/stage-review. Accessed 18 October 2001.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McEntyre, M.C. Sickness in the System: The Health Costs of the Harvest. J Med Humanit 28, 97–104 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-007-9031-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10912-007-9031-3