The history of the Texas Farm Workers Union is not complete without mentioning Antonio Orendain, a man often referred to as the ‘César Chávez of Texas.’ Orendain played a significant role in organizing farm workers in Texas, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. His dedication to the movement led him to become a founding member of the National Farm Workers Association, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to form the United Farm Workers (UFW).
Orendain’s split from Chávez and the UFW was due to various factors, including differences in organizing strategies and philosophies. While Chávez embraced a spiritual persona and nonviolent tactics, Orendain was a secularist who focused on organizing workers on both sides of the border, regardless of their immigration status. The rift between Orendain and Chávez came to a head during a melon strike in Texas’ Starr County, where tensions rose, and eventually, Orendain formed the Texas Farm Workers Union in 1975.
Despite Orendain’s significant contributions to the farmworkers’ movement, his legacy has often been overlooked in popular narratives. His son, Joseph Orendain, highlights the lack of recognition his father receives in official UFW accounts and historical retellings. While Orendain’s role was slated to be portrayed in a César Chávez biopic, the part was eventually cut, further erasing his contributions from public memory.
The focus on Chávez’s legacy has sometimes overshadowed the efforts of individuals like Orendain and the Texas Farm Workers Union. Those who were part of the TFWU in its heyday emphasize the importance of sharing credit and acknowledging the contributions of all those involved in the farmworkers’ movement. The issue is not about diminishing Chávez’s accomplishments but rather about recognizing the collective efforts of individuals like Orendain in Texas.
Efforts to bring attention to the history of the Texas Farm Workers Union include calls for public recognition, such as naming schools after Antonio Orendain and incorporating the TFWU’s history into Texas’ public school curricula. The goal is to ensure that the story of individuals like Orendain and the TFWU is more widely known and appreciated.
While the legacy of Antonio Orendain may have been pushed to the side in mainstream narratives, there is a growing interest in uncovering and sharing the history of the Texas Farm Workers Union. Stay tuned for the next installment in this series, which will delve into the most ambitious undertaking of the TFWU. If you found this reporting valuable, please consider supporting it with a donation to help continue these important storytelling efforts.