That's Not Fair! - No Es Justo!: Emma Tenayuca's Struggle for Justice - la Lucha de Emma Tenayuca Por la Justicia
A vivid depiction of the early injustices encountered by a young Mexican-American girl in San Antonio in the 1920's, this book tells the true story of Emma Tenayuca. Emma learns to care deeply about poverty and hunger during a time when many Mexican Americans were starving to death and working unreasonably long hours at slave wages in the city's pecan-shelling factories. Through astute perception, caring, and personal action, Emma begins to get involved, and eventually, at the age of 21,...
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A vivid depiction of the early injustices encountered by a young Mexican-American girl in San Antonio in the 1920's, this book tells the true story of Emma Tenayuca. Emma learns to care deeply about poverty and hunger during a time when many Mexican Americans were starving to death and working unreasonably long hours at slave wages in the city's pecan-shelling factories. Through astute perception, caring, and personal action, Emma begins to get involved, and eventually, at the age of 21, leads 12,000 workers in the first significant historical action in the Mexican-American struggle for justice. Emma Tenayuca's story serves as a model for young and old alike about courage, compassion, and the role everyone can play in making the world more fair.Children's LiteratureBefore there was Cesar Chavez, there was Emma Tenayuca. This bilingual (Spanish/English) biography about little known Emma Tenayuca's struggle on behalf of Texas pecan shellers who were some of the lowest paid laborers in the nation is well told by Emma's niece Ms. Teneyuca and Dr. Tafolla. As is always the case involving unjust causes, the poor peasants were oppressed Mexican Americans. Most of them were Texans of several generations, unlike the many members of the current immigration problem who are mainly illegal residents. In the 1920s and 1930s these pecan shellers worked in deplorable circumstances: twelve hour days, seven days a week, for as little as six cents per pound of pecans shelled. Furthermore, most of these workers were women. They breathed the pecan dust when working in closed quarters which made them sick. In 1938 their wages were cut in half and that was when they found in Ms. Tenayuca a champion for their cause. Emma cared enough to organize a strike and eventually the salaries were raised. Emma became a voice of hope. The illustrations by muralist Ybanez have a decidedly Tex-Mex feel. Every page is framed by a tree and branches making for very attractive double spreads. This biography is perfect for use in the school curriculum. This is also recommended for public libraries. It is nice to have other biographies of social reformers besides the well known ones on Cesar Chavez. Reviewer: Maria E. Gentle
\ Children's Literature\ - Maria E. Gentle\ Before there was Cesar Chavez, there was Emma Tenayuca. This bilingual (Spanish/English) biography about little known Emma Tenayuca's struggle on behalf of Texas pecan shellers who were some of the lowest paid laborers in the nation is well told by Emma's niece Ms. Teneyuca and Dr. Tafolla. As is always the case involving unjust causes, the poor peasants were oppressed Mexican Americans. Most of them were Texans of several generations, unlike the many members of the current immigration problem who are mainly illegal residents. In the 1920s and 1930s these pecan shellers worked in deplorable circumstances: twelve hour days, seven days a week, for as little as six cents per pound of pecans shelled. Furthermore, most of these workers were women. They breathed the pecan dust when working in closed quarters which made them sick. In 1938 their wages were cut in half and that was when they found in Ms. Tenayuca a champion for their cause. Emma cared enough to organize a strike and eventually the salaries were raised. Emma became a voice of hope. The illustrations by muralist Ybanez have a decidedly Tex-Mex feel. Every page is framed by a tree and branches making for very attractive double spreads. This biography is perfect for use in the school curriculum. This is also recommended for public libraries. It is nice to have other biographies of social reformers besides the well known ones on Cesar Chavez. Reviewer: Maria E. Gentle\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalGr 2-6\ The title of this bilingual biography echoes the theme of the life of a legendary Mexican-American activist in Texas during the 1920s and 1930s. The story moves from Tenayuca's childhood introduction to the poverty and unfair treatment of Mexican Americans living in her hometown of San Antonio to her increasing awareness of the injustice they suffered, and ultimate fight for their civil rights. Their plight made her angry: "She saw so many people go to work when it was still dark and not come home again until late at night. Many worked so many hours that they were coughing and sick, and still they did not earn enough to feed their children." In 1938, at the age of 21, she led a successful strike of 12,000 pecan shellers whose pitiful wages had been cut from six cents to three cents an hour. In an afterword, which includes photographs of Tenayuca, the rest of her story is related: jailed many times, forced to move, she eventually worked her way through college and returned later to San Francisco as a reading teacher for migrant children. Ybáñez's striking illustrations, framed by pecan-tree branches, are reflective of traditional Mexican mural art, with bold colors and simple shapes. An important book celebrating the struggle for justice and civil rights.-Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI\ \ \
