Rio Grande Valley Oral Histories
Identifier
ELIBR0027
Files
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Creation Date
5-5-2009
Description
Norma Ramirez Aguiñaga reflects on her father's involvement in the 1977 march advocating for the rights of Texas Farm Workers, alongside Antonio Orendain. As a young girl of 15, she described the community's efforts to support this cause, with families taking turns to transport the children to join the marchers on weekends. Her father, Claudio Ramirez, created a handcrafted banner featuring the Virgen de San Juan, which symbolized their devotion and hope for protection throughout their journey. Norma now carries the responsibility of preserving this history and ensuring that the struggles and achievements of those farm workers are not forgotten, as she collaborates with others who were part of the movement to maintain this legacy through education and remembrance.
The conversation highlights the tension between Texas farm workers and the more recognized figures like Cesar Chavez, emphasizing that Chavez’s contributions primarily pertained to California. Norma asserts it was Orendain and his supporters who played a crucial role in the Texas movement, yet they have not received proper acknowledgment. She reflects on the historical significance of their work, including the establishment of "El Cuhamil" and the murals that symbolize the struggles faced by these workers.
Physical Description
Transcript: PDF, 11 pages, text
Format
MP3
Length
00:36:13
Language
English
Notes
Converted from Sony Mini-cassette (MC-90)
Recommended Citation
Aguiñaga, Norma Ramirez and Bacha Garza, Roseann, "Interview with Norma Ramirez Aguiñaga" (2009). Rio Grande Valley Oral Histories. 551.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/rgvoralhistories/551
