Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

7-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS)

Department

Interdisciplinary Studies

First Advisor

Alberto Rodriguez

Second Advisor

Stephanie Alvarez

Third Advisor

Carolina Monsivais

Abstract

This thesis traces the development of agribusiness, treaties, and labor activism in the sugarcane industry in the Rio Grande Valley. It is multi-disciplinary using archival evidence, oral history, and anthropological theory and contributes to Mexican American labor history in the Texas-Mexico borderlands. This thesis unearths the racial violence and forgotten successful labor activism. It begins by tracing the origins and developments of the various sugar mills and includes the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Cooperative in this development. Then, it highlights treaties between the United States and Mexico to show how diplomacy has been used as a form of imperialism to control and exploit resources and workers in the region. Finally, this thesis underscores racial violence that occurred at some of the sugar mills in the early 20th century, and it covers three successful strikes that occurred at the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Cooperative in Santa Rosa by using oral histories of some of the striking workers. Ultimately, this work shows that while the Rio Grande Valley is largely an exploited and colonized region, there have been moments of successful forms of resistance.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Laura Lamb. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3409019621

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