Adolfo Butch Cárdenas, a veteran journalist and author from South Texas, is shining a light on the often-overlooked lives of migrant families in his historical novel, *Good Cotton People*. The book, recently nominated for the Sergio Troncoso Writing Award for Best First Book of Fiction by the Texas Institute of Letters, revolves around the 1951 harvest at Littlejohn Farm in West Texas, a pivotal moment signaling the rise of mechanization in agriculture.
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Cárdenas focuses on los laguneros, migrant workers from Mexico's La Comarca Lagunera region, who fled violence during the 1910 Mexican Revolution. Seeking safety and better pay, they found themselves facing harsh realities in Texas, where they often endured substandard living conditions, racial prejudice, and immigration challenges. Cárdenas explains that, although life in Texas was fraught with difficulties, it provided opportunities absent in their home country.
The novel features two main characters, Don Tenorio Tovar and Don Francisco Montemayor, who establish roots in the fictional settlement of Tecolote after escaping the revolution. Tenorio becomes a respected labor contractor, while Francisco starts a trucking business transporting crops and migrant workers. Cárdenas draws parallels between Francisco's journey and his own family's experiences in agriculture, particularly in transportation within the cotton industry.
Cárdenas highlights the pride and patriotism of early migrant families, noting that they sent sons to fight in World War II despite facing discrimination at home. Over time, the hard work in the fields contributed to a burgeoning middle class, enabling future generations to access education and entrepreneurship.
In *Good Cotton People*, Cárdenas also explores the character of William Allen Littlejohn, a grower who offers support to his laborers and resists the full mechanization of his farm. Littlejohn grapples with his family's antebellum legacy, attempting to balance modernization with the welfare of his employees. Cárdenas sees this internal conflict as relevant today, as the agricultural workforce faces new challenges from technological advancements.
Cárdenas, who began his journalism career in the 1980s and has reported on various social and economic issues across South Texas, emphasizes that his writing is rooted in truth and precision. With a background in community journalism and an English degree from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, he has cultivated a commitment to capturing authentic narratives.
He views *Good Cotton People* as a tribute to the families whose labor has shaped generations. The novel is available online and through local retailers, and Cárdenas will be appearing at the Texas Book Festival on November 15 and at The Twig Book Shop in San Antonio on November 19. Readers can contact him at [email protected].