Seth Holmes presents in Marseille his book Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States

Published on 11 Oct 2024

fruits frais corps brises seth m. holmes couverture

Former Iméra resident, anthropologist and medical doctor Seth Holmes, will present his book Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States on Tuesday, October 15, from 7 p.m., at the bookstore L’hydre aux mille têtes in Marseille.

Holmes chose to immerse himself fully in the lives of Mexican agricultural workers, following them as they left their families behind, crossed the perilous U.S.-Mexico border, and traveled through various states to harvest crops under extreme conditions. By sharing their lives and hardships, Holmes captures, with rare narrative intensity, the pain, joy, and physical challenges of itinerant labor. He also sheds light on the poor medical care these workers receive when their bodies inevitably give in to the strain of their work.

Beyond personal testimonies, this anthropological investigation reveals the economic and social mechanisms behind the exploitation of migrant bodies. It exposes the underlying violence and the racial hierarchies that underpin this form of segregation accepted by modern economies. Beneath the fresh fruits consumed every day lies an often-ignored reality of injustice.

During his residency at Iméra (2020-2021), Seth Holmes explored how doctors are trained to perceive and respond to social differences and inequalities in their medical education when caring for patients suffering from various illnesses and injuries, including cancers.