Mexican-American Labor Rights in the Great Depression: Struggles and Activism
Mexican Americans faced economic hardship during the Great Depression, leading to labor activism and unionization. Children participated in family work, while LULAC and the CIO played key roles in advocating for labor rights. Women, such as Emma Tenayuca, fought for better conditions in various industries.
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Mexican American Labor Rights in the Great Depression Crucible of Struggle Ch. 7
The Great Depression Mexican Americans did not widely share in the economic prosperity of the 1920 s, so the Great Depression that swept over the country for the was only a deepening of poverty and hardship. They remained apart from the larger American society, and as the Great Depression dragged on, it only intensified their lasting negative image in the public s mind. Zaragosa Vargas What factors kept Mexican Americans from sharing the wealth of the 1920 s?
The Role of Mexican American Children Children who were of age were expected to work along with their parents Those children who were too young to work took care of their younger siblings
LULAC during the Depression LULAC saw its numbers decline and some its charters collapse, this was for several reasons. Mexicans fleeing towards Mexico to escape rampant racism. LULAC s pro-American approach which advocated for immigration restrictions for Mexicans This left Mexican workers with no protection but themselves Consequently, they unionized under Refugio Martinez, Luz Salazar, Emma Tenayuca, and Armando Davila
Congress of Industrial Organization Advocated for equality among all the races Gained quick support from Mexican Americans in search of an organization which would assist them Through the use of Spanish speaking organizers the CIO fought for better pay and conditions for Mexican workers
Women and labor activism New Deal Legislation did not address the needs of women Few unions in occupations in which women worked Consequently women organized themselves and participated in strikes in the tobacco, garment, food cannery industries.
Emma Tenayuca Born in San Antonio Emma would earn the nickname La Pasionaria for her passion for the cause of labor She became a labor activist before graduating from high school. She was arrested at age 16 when she joined the picket line of workers on strike against the Finck Cigar Company of San Antonio in 1933. From 1934-48, she supported almost every strike in the city, writing leaflets, visiting homes of strikers, and joining them on picket lines. She founded two International Ladies' Garment Workers Unions, and organized strikes against San Antonio's large pecan shelling industry.
Mexicans in the Early Years of the Great Depression The Depression increased the number of Mexican migrant farmworkers Charged enormous prices for their meager housing (sometimes housed in chicken coops) farm workers were in constant debt to the farmers they worked for. Denied medical care or any other types of assistance afforded others Treated unequally or mistreated by law enforcement Laws like the 1931 Cotton Acreage Control Law cut cotton acreage in half causing more joblessness and movement of farm workers into the cities In Colorado martial law was declared in order to keep Mexicans out of the state
Repatriation The Great Depression ended 2 decades of uninterrupted immigration from Mexico The Immigration Act of 1929 made unlawful entry into the US a felony. It also authorized the federal government to conduct mass deportation campaigns to remove foreign aliens Hoover made Mexican American as scapegoats to deflect blame from him and his administration's ineffective handling of the Great Depression. Consequently, he led the rest of the United States in laying the blame on Mexican laborers, whether they were US citizens or not.
Repatriation campaign spreads The American Federation of Labor was at the forefront of anti-Mexican campaigns claiming they stealing jobs from real Americans . Local and county governments conducted sweeps of Mexican neighborhoods deporting anyone they suspected of being in the country illegally In many cases lack of identification and speaking Spanish was all that was needed to get yourself deported The atmosphere of fear and hatred led many Mexicans to flee to Mexico whether they were citizens or not. In the end, 345,839 Mexicans were deported of the Mexican population in America. (this number does not account those who fled on their own)
David Alfaro Siqueiros Mexican Artist living in the US under a Visa Refused an extension of his visa he was deported to Mexico He had been in California painting murals for the city. One of the murals entitled La America Tropical a political critique of racism and colonialism was whitewashed over when he left.
David Alfaro Siqueiros La America Tropical
The Growers The powerful growers attempted to insure there were enough farmworkers in the US to pick their crops. With of the Mexicans population gone they called on state and local officials to restore calm in the Mexican community.
Mexicans in the Era of the National Recovery Act The Agricultural Adjustment Administration Act (AAA) only aided the growers No provisions were provided in the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA) NIRA did provide for the right of workers to join labor organizations and conduct collective bargaining with their employers. This led to Mexican American workers challenging the power of growers through over 61 strikes involving 56,800 farmworkers
Difficulties Organizing Mobility of the workforce short seasons timing strikes to coincide with peak periods of demands for labor use of strikebreakers from Mexico who were allowed by US Immigration and Border patrol The use of violence by state, local officers and the use of goon squads
Women battle for equality Domestic workers suffered greatly they were hired, fired, re-hired at lower and lower wages. they were at times paid with old clothes instead of money They eventually organized under into Asociacion de Trajabadores Domesticas (ADW)
Finck Cigar Company Strike 1934 First strike by a mainly Mexican female workforce Cigar workers at the Finck Cigar Company of San Antonio went on strike for better wages and better working conditions Their peaceful protest was constantly being disrupted by city police. Eventually police used their fists and clubs slamming women onto the pavement and arresting them. The cigar company finally yielded to strikers demands
Mexican Mine Worker Strike The strike began in the summer of 1933 in response to reduction in wages and the fact that Mexican American mineworkers were paid less than their Anglo counterparts. The strike was led by a communist union organization called the National Miners Union (NMU) Mexicans were drawn to them because they did not discriminate against races and would therefore allow Mexicans in their membership.
Strike turns violent Wives of the miners banded together to provided soup kitchens, insure homes were properly heated, and providing children with clothes. In response to the strike New Mexico declared martial law The mine company enacted mass evictions and working with the state had mass deportations of mineworkers and their families. Evictions would take place with the militia forcing people from their homes dumping their belongings outside of company property. Miners fought back and 3 were jailed leading to a riot in which the sheriff was killed. Leading to 600 miners being arrested, 200 were jailed and 48 were tried for murder. 100 workers, their wives and their children were deported to Mexico
