#tejanas

1981. Austin, Texas. Photo by Alan Pogue. Chicana Brown Beret holding banner during a protest. This uniform of the Brown Beret became a symbol of its militant style influenced by Los Angeles Brown Beret leader David Sanchez who first introduced this uniform to the original organization in the early 70s. The name of the organization, 'Brown Beret' comes from their use of this hat and was the nickname that the LAPD used to discriminate against the Chicano activists.

Mural of Emma Tenayuca and other notable Tejanxs by Valerie Arranda  and others, 2006.

Mexican American pecan workers in San Antonio, Texas, 1939.

Jovita Idar (right) and other employees in the print shop of El Progreso Newspaper, 1914. General Photograph Collection, UTSA Special Collections.

Making the forefront of labor activism, Emma would become known as one of the most prominent and important Latinas in labor organizers of the 20th century. Largely inspired by her grandfather, Emma took a strong interest in social justice. Specifically, she recalls the important role La Plaza de Zacate held for Latino and Mexican Americans residing in San Antonio. Stating that it was "the center of activity", where Magonistas and "exiles from the Mexican Revolution" would speak to crowds, Mexicans would gather, and they would be informed of the latest political news. Moreso, while she began working with the International Ladies Garment Worker Untion (ILBWU), her most distinguished worked can be recognized within the year of 1938. During this time, she organized and led on the largest strikes in San Antonio history, which today is recognized as the Pecal Shellers Strike.

The Brown Berets are often recognized as a California militant organization created in the late 1960s during the rise of the Chicano movement. Although the organization found its beginning in Los Angeles, CA, chapters across the nation formed, including in East Austin, who formed the chapter in 1973 with Gilbert Rivera and Paul Hernandez. Throughout the 70's and 80's the East Austin Activists led community-wide efforts in pushing against the police brutality faced by Chicanos and made numerous efforts for the community's self-determination. Unfortunately, many of the reports made on this organization focus on the men of the group, while the Tejanas of the Brown Berets are brushed aside, their story either unreported or unhighlighted. This historical report intends to bring these women to the center of this history and stress the importance of their stories. Research was conducted at the Briscoe Center for American History, Benson Latin American Collections, and Austin Public History Center.

1978. Photo by Manuel Ramirez. Protest held at Town Lake, Austin, Texas against the impeding Boat Races during the Aqua Festival held throughout the decade. This Festival was fought against by the Brown Berets as the boat races left their part of town in disarray each event. After attending meetings and fighting against the city council for years, the city council finally agreed to end the boat races in 1978, a win for the East Austin community.

1977. Crowd at Protest in Austin, Texas for the brutal beating and drowning of Jose Campos Torres by the Houston Police Department. The sign in the crowd reads 'TERRORISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN TEXAS PD' as Campos Torres was one of many victims of police brutality by HPD.