Before cesar chavez and the grapes boycott there was emma tenayuca and the pecan strike. This book is an excellent contribution to our effort to diversify the immigrant narrative, as it exposes not only the initial hardships of immigrating to the u. She is best known for her work organizing mexican workers in texas during the 1930s, particularly for leading the 1938 san antonio pecan shellers strike. How this woman organized a strike for workers rights in. Near the end of her life, tenayuca suffered from alzheimers disease. Tenayuca, emma beatrice the handbook of texas online. Emma tenayuca, religious elites, and the 1938 pecanshellers strike emma tenayuca, religious elites, and the 1938 pecanshellers strike chapter. Labor activist emma tenayucas pacing and vowels give her. Hooked on books hob submission form poetry summer reading writers showcase. Jan 29, 2018 the original strike leader was emma tenayuca, born in 1916, a wellknown figure in san antonio politics and the dominant force in the workers alliance, a national organization formed by the.
With over 10,000 participants, it was the largest labor strike in san antonio history and the most massive communitybased strike waged by the nations mexican population in the 1930s. Local union leaders quickly realized that they did not have the resources necessary to overcome san antonios white power elite. In 1938, tenayuca, only 21 years old, led 12,000 workers in a strike of pecan shellers mostly hispanic women in san antonio, texas. Sep 11, 2019 labor activist emma tenayuca in this monthstexan translation, we breaking down the unique accent of mexicantexan labor activist, union organizer and educator, emma tenayuca. Radicals in the barrio is a remarkable book that fills the gap. Tenayuca was a central figure in the radical labor movement in texas during the 1930s and a leading member of the workers alliance of. The case of luisa moreno national museum of american history. Pecanshellers strike the handbook of texas online texas. Emma tenayuca december 21, 1916 july 23, 1999, also known as emma beatrice tenayuca, was a mexican american labor leader, union organizer and educator. In depressionera south texas, a young mexicanamerican woman broke tradition when she stood up for oppressed workers in her community and made an.
It showed that one person, no matter how small, can make a difference. In a strike and an uprising in texas, the newest work by lewis and associate producer laura varela, she ruminates on two major, yet poorly covered moments in texas labor history. On one of the great unsung heroes of the american labor movement. A short account of the life of emma tenayuca and the texas pecan shellers strike of largely hispanic workers in which she played a leading. Emma tenayuca, religious elites, and the 1938 pecan. He argued that the poor mexican peon if left alone. From 193448, she supported almost every strike in the city, writing leaflets, visiting homes of strikers, and joining them on picket lines. Emma was sixteen when she first went to jail, arrested for joining a labor strike by san antonio cigar workers in 1932. Tenayuca became a leader in the pecanshellers strike in 1938.
Considered the largest labor strike in san antonios history, it saw mainly mexican american pecan shellers, organized by labor activist emma tenayuca, protest wage cuts by the southern pecan shelling company. This picture book tells the true story of emma tenayuca, who at the age of 21 led thousands of mexicanamerican pecan shellers in a successful strike. Sep 04, 2018 there was some redbaiting going on at the time because one of the leaders emma tenayuca had an affiliation with the communist party, so they took advantage of that to portray the entire strike as communist inspired, which was not necessarily the case, gonzalez said. The original strike leader was emma tenayuca, born in 1916, a wellknown figure in san antonio politics and the dominant force in the workers alliance, a national organization formed by the.
Emma tenayuca volunteered herself to organize the strike, which was led by donald henderson 1. Tenayucas work led her to an interest in socialism. The pecanshellers strike that began spontaneously in january 1938, however, catapulted tenayuca to even greater heights of local, regional, and national renown. When she was 16 years old, she joined the labor movement and found out all about the finck cigar company strikes. Book chapters emma tenayuca 1916 1999 blume library at. In 1937, mexican workers were among the strikers and supporters beaten, arrested, and murdered by chicago policemen in the now infamous republic steel mill strike. The workers organized under the international pecan shellers union ipcu local no. In that era, noriega said, there were around 12,000 mostly mexicanamerican women shelling pecans, earning starvation. Absorbing and meticulously researched, labor rights are civil. Shellers early connection with emma tenayuca brooks, a. Materials include books, electronic books, articles, databases, and web resources.
Radicals in the barrio uncovers a long and rich history of political radicalism within the mexican and chicano working class in the united states. Image courtesy of the university of texas at san antonio. Jan 29, 2018 1 of 3 in 1938, emma tenayuca led a demonstration in san antonio, protesting discrimination against mexican pecan shellers, prompting a strike by 6,0008,000 workers, possibly the largest walkout. There we see a 20yearold tenayuca lead the 1938 pecan shellers strike in texas. She gives him the names of books he needs to check out of the library at. Rights activist emma tenayuca, seen in 1937, led 12,000 pecan shellers on strike in 1938. She went door to door to discuss issues and concerns that mexican american families were facing during the middle of the depression. Apr 17, 2020 born and raised in san antonio, texas, emma tenayuca was a mexican american labor union organizer, civil rights activist, and educator. Born and raised culturally catholic herself, tenayuca fit the profile of a catholic dedicated to socialjustice causes and. Labor activist emma tenayucas pacing and vowels give her an. This week in 1938, pecan shellers began the largest strike. The pecanshellers strike is considered by many historians to be the first significant victory in the mexicanamerican struggle for political and economic equality in. Childrens books carmen tafolla the real official website. Woman of action emma tenayuca emma tenayuca was born on december 21, 1916, in san antonio, texas, one of eleven children.
She is best known for her work organizing mexican workers in texas during the 1930s, particularly for leading the 1938 southern pecan shelling company workers strike. Starting on january 31, the strike lasted until march 8. In an era when the voices of mexican americans and women were routinely silenced, tenayuca. Emma beatrice tenayuca, mexican american labor organizer, civil rights activist, and educator was a central figure in the radical labor movement in texas during the 1930s and a leading member of the workers alliance of america and communist party of texas. Was able to get superintendant fired and books banned. This is an article that provides information about the strike and the background of emma tenayuca. Historians have described this as the first successful largescale act in the mexicanamerican struggle for civil rights and justice. Tenayuca is best known as a leader of the 1938 pecan shellers strike. Smexico border who played a significant role in organizing left organizations beginning with the industrial workers of the world iww in the early 1900s to the.
Emma tenayuca and the 1938 pecan shellers strike a short account of the life of emma tenayuca and the texas pecan shellers strike of largely hispanic workers in which she played a leading role. Resources about emma tenayuca and related topics available. The rioters targeted not only the communists and their leader, emma tenayuca, but also recently elected mayor maury maverick, whose administration had granted a permit for the gathering. Emma tenayuca was in many ways a woman before her time. Right to work lawsresponse to red scare and communists in unions. Resources about emma tenayuca and related topics available through the blume. Emma tenayuca and the 1938 pecan shellers strike libcom. Emma tenayucas first arrest came at the age of 16 in 1933, when she joined a picket line of workers in a strike against the finck cigar company. She was first arrested when she was sixteen, but by the time she led the pecan shellers strike she had become a real threat to business as usual in san antonio. How this woman organized a strike for workers rights in the. Emma tenayuca21 years oldorganized 1938 pecan shellers strike in san antonio. Shes best known for leading the pecan shellers strike in 1938, in san antonio.
As an organizer, she played a vital role in the famous 1938 pecan shellers strike in san antonio. She lived with her grandparents during her childhood to ease her parents strife. And thats where her latest paintings inspiration, emma tenayuca, comes into play. Tenayuca led the 1938 texas pecan shellers strike, which was. Apr 29, 2015 this is an article that provides information about the strike and the background of emma tenayuca.
What we can learn on the 80th anniversary of the san. Located in the print periodicals collection, 2nd floor, blume library. It was a small victory but it gave the community hope and was a step forward in the struggle for equality. The late mexicanamerican labor organizer and civil rights advocate led the 1938 pecan shellers strike which attracted national press. Tenacious labor leader and educator emma tenayuca was born in san antonio in 1916. Most families reported that the biggest issue was the drop in wages and the scarce job opportunities. To my amazement, emma tenayuca came to life through an animated cartoon in the exhibition american enterprise. The authors focus on emmas childhood and her awakening empathy with mexicanamerican laborers. Learn about the tenacious labor leader and educator egregiously missing from history books. The strike was documented in newspapers nationwide.
Emma tenayuca was a latina leader who was associated with a large union of pecan workers. Born and raised in san antonio, texas, emma tenayuca was a mexican american labor union organizer, civil rights activist, and educator. Labor activist emma tenayuca in this monthstexan translation, we breaking down the unique accent of mexicantexan labor activist, union organizer and educator, emma tenayuca. In 1938, san antonio was the biggest pecanproducing city in texas. Courtesy courtesy 2 of 3 rights activist emma tenayuca, seen in 1937, led 12,000 pecan shellers on strike in 1938.
Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. The original strike leader was emma tenayuca, a wellknown figure in san antonio politics and the dominant force in the workers alliance, a national organization formed by the communist party during the great depression. Emma tenayuca and the san antonio pecan shellers strike of 1938. Shellers early connection with emma tenayuca brooks, a wellknown communist, had weakened their position. Emma tenayuca, religious elites, and the 1938 pecanshellers. Using this event as a springboard, zaragosa vargas embarks on the first fullscale history of the mexicanamerican labor movement in twentiethcentury america. This historic victory was the first significant win for mexican american workers in the struggle for political and economic justice. The authors focus on emma s childhood and her awakening empathy with mexicanamerican laborers. It was this involvement that led her to her famous pecan shellers strike. Antonio walkout one of the only cio strike success stories in the south. Dec 05, 20 emma tenayuca volunteered herself to organize the strike, which was led by donald henderson 1. Dec 04, 20 it was this involvement that led her to her famous pecan shellers strike.
For the average worker, they wanted a fair wage and better treatment. As tenayuca notes in her texas observer article, she experienced difficulties with the leadership, particularly the cio, which wanted her removed from organizing the strike due to her affiliation with the communist party 2. Emma tenayuca, leader of the pecanshellers strike of 1938 photo courtesy of the institute of texan cultures. With her family and neighbors strongly affected by the privations of the great depression, she joined labor protests on behalf of the working poor. Image available on the internet and included in accordance with title 17 u.
This chapter situates mexican workers at the center of a contest for religious and social control over their lives. It speaks of emma tenayucas role for the importance of the womens strike in san antonio. No sex scandals, no political bsthis is a story about. Cristina sosa noriegas tribute to emma tenayuca the. In particular, the author has done an excellent job documenting the role of mexican men and women on both sides of the u. University of texas at san antonio and the threat of godless communism guaranteed the hostility of the catholic church. Emma tenayuca 19161999 was a hispanic labor activist, organizer, and humanitarian in texas, best known for leading the pecan shellers strike in san antonio in 1938. Ybanezs striking illustrations, framed by pecantree branches, are reflective of. Emma tenayuca, religious elites, and the 1938 pecanshellers strike. She is perhaps best remembered for her role in organizing the largest strike in san antonio history, the pecanshellers. Feb 02, 2016 emma tenayuca and the 1938 pecan shellers strike a short account of the life of emma tenayuca and the texas pecan shellers strike of largely hispanic workers in which she played a leading role. The shellers won a pay raise through the strike, although nutcracking machines replaced them a few years later. Oct 02, 2019 emma tenayuca behind barsnot for the first time.
Emma beatrice tenayuca, mexican american labor organizer, civil rights activist, and educator, oldest daughter of sam tenayuca and benita hernandez zepeda, was born in san antonio, texas, on december 21, 1916. At the time of the 1938 pecan strike by thousands of mexican americansmexicans, especially women, drossaerts had supported police repression. Emma tenayuca21 years oldorganized 1938 pecan shellers strike in san antonioasked for higher wages and better work conditionsshe and her husband communists. Tenayuca, whose husband, homer brooks, was a former communist party gubernatorial candidate, had led sitdowns at city hall and battled pay cuts in the work projects. She was arrested for the first time at age 16 after joining a picket line of workers striking against the finck cigar company.
Cristina sosa noriegas tribute to emma tenayuca the texas. Although this article does not mention emma tenayuca, it provides details about the 1938 pecan shellers strike and its aftermath. Tenayuca challenged the southern pecan company, a major texas industry, and the city. Apr 10, 2019 emma tenayucas struggle for justice with tenayucas niece, sharryl teneyuca who spells her last name with a second e and terry ybanez. Jan 01, 2008 this compelling tale, best for grades 26, recounts the biographical story of emma tenayuca, a young, mexicanamerican activist. In 1938, emma was asked to lead the strike of some 12,000 pecan shellers, most of them mexican women. Pecan shellers strike in san antonio, tx south texas. In early 1938, the companies sought to further increase their profits by cutting the workers pay, from six or seven cents per pound to as little as. Only by working outside dominant religious institutions, as emma tenayuca did, were of these religious activists able to support the striking pecan shellers. The business of pecan shelling had been mechanized a few decades before.
The 1938 san antonio pecan shellers strike was a labor strike involving 12,000 pecan shellers in san antonio, texas, united states. There was some redbaiting going on at the time because one of the leaders emma tenayuca had an affiliation with the communist party, so they took advantage of that to portray the entire strike as communist inspired, which was not necessarily the case, gonzalez. Tenayuca, emma beatrice the handbook of texas online texas. In blue texas, a historical blueprint for texas activists. Emma tenayuca was born in born in san antonio, texas in 1916. This week in 1938, pecan shellers began the largest strike in. But the people who shell the pecans worked for little pay in harsh conditions. Fortunately, her story is preserved through formats such as the interview above and books in which she had a personal hand. The workers who picketed during the strike were gassed, arrested, and jailed. Shellers early connection with emma tenayuca brooks, a wellknown. On one of the great unsung heroes of the american labor.
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