Emma Tenayuca Mujer Poderosa

Meet Mujer Poderosa Emma Tenayuca, leading Labor Organizer in Tejas✨⠀ ⠀ In the 1930’s pecans shellers were paid about $2 a week in San Antonio, TX. The equivalent of about = $.10 an hour when the minimum wage was $.25.⠀ Many of the workers being Latina were forced to work in sweatshop-like conditions; tight quarters with little to no ventilation, causing many to suffer from tuberculosis.⠀ ⠀ One company 👉🏽 Southern Pecan Shelling Co justified low wages by stating they allowed their shellers to eat pecans while they worked.⠀ ⠀ ENTER 20-year-old sheller, Emma Tenayuca ✊🏽⠀ ⠀ When wages dropped even lower, 12,000+ workers went on strike and positioned Emma as their leader/organizer. Emma not only demanded fair wages but better working conditions.⠀ ⠀ The protests lasted 3 months, police were called, and those on strike beaten by authorities and taken into custody including Emma.⠀ ⠀ Emma spent 37 days in jail. Once released she successfully negotiated a higher and equal wage 💵 for workers.⠀ ⠀ She was known as La Pasionaria de Texas “because of her passion and corazón ❤️ — defendiéndo a los pobres, speaking up and using her voice when neither Mexicans nor women were expected to speak at all.” – Carmen Tagolla⠀ ⠀ “I never thought in terms of fear…I thought in terms of JUSTICE.” – Emma Tenayuca ✊🏽