Screening two new short films for young people

Excerpted in part from “A Strike and an Uprising (in Texas)” winner of an audience award from Cine Las Americas, two new short films for young people. One 14 minute film tells the story of Annie Mae Carpenter, Secretary of the Nacogdoches chapter of the NAACP. In 1973, she refused to clean the male student restrooms at Stephen F. Austin State University and was fired. The race and gender discrimination suit, Anne Mae Carpenter et al v. Stephen F. Austin State University, went on for more than 10 years. In 1983, a Texas State Employees Union organizing drive began including a 1987 march of 3,000 through the streets of Nacogdoches on to campus under the banner of Jobs with Justice. Workers won back pay and the right to a union. Designed for high school students, the documentary includes excerpts from oral history interviews, archival material, original drawings, and conversation with Amber Pleasant, Austin educator, and three high school young people.

“Emma Tenayuca and the 1938 San Antonio Pecan Shellers Strike\” is designed for 6 year olds on up. It was made en communidad with performer, cultural worker, and educator Keli Rosa Cabunoc Romera and three elementary and middle school young people. In 1938, more than 10,000 pecan shellers walked out over a cut in their wages. They were mainly women and children. This was the first massive collective action by Latinx workers in the country. The film includes an original song, a visit to Emma Tenayuca’s grave, archival material, oral history, and conversation.