In defense of my people / Alonso S. Perales ; translated and edited by Emilio Zamora.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Perales, Alonso S., 1898-1960, author.

Contributor:

Zamora, Emilio, editor, translator.

Series:

Hispanic civil rights series

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections. English

Language:

English

Spanish

Subjects (All):

Mexican Americans--Civil rights--Texas--History--20th century.

Mexican Americans.

Mexican Americans--Civil rights--History--20th century.

Perales, Alonso S., 1898-1960.

Perales, Alonso S.

Physical Description:

xxviii, 319 pages ; 21 cm.

Place of Publication:

Houston, Texas : Arte Público Press, [2021]

Language Note:

Originally published in Spanish.

Summary:

"In 1927, when his letters to two Texas governors about the assassination of Mexican Americans in police custody in South Texas were ignored, Alonso S. Perales wrote to President Coolidge, asking for the Justice Department to conduct an official investigation into their deaths. Perales believed US citizens of Mexican descent had an obligation to their country, "including offering our lives for this Nation when necessary." He also believed adamantly that the United States had a duty to protect the rights of all its people. Originally published in Spanish in 1936 and 1937, In Defense of My People contains articles, letters and speeches written by one of the most influential civil rights activists of the early twentieth century. When Mexican-American veterans of World War II were denied service in a South Texas pool hall, even while wearing their uniforms, Perales wrote about the incident for The San Antonio Express. He also exhorted his community to secure an education and participate in civic duties. His form letter, "How to Request School Facilities for Our Children," helped parents secure schools "equal to those furnished children of Anglo-American descent." Alonso S. Perales was the co-founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), an attorney, activist and US diplomat. He has been largely forgotten, in part because his writings were in Spanish. This first-ever English translation of his two-volume publication, En defensa de mi raza, will make Perales' contributions to equal rights for Mexicans and Mexican Americans available to a much larger audience. A long-lost gem of the civil rights movement, this book is a must-read for historians and anyone interested in the Latino community's fight for rights, dignity and respect. ALONSO S. PERALES (1898-1960) was born in Alice, Texas, and became an attorney, activist, author and US diplomat. EMILIO ZAMORA, a professor of history at the University of Texas, is a Fellow of the George W. Littlefield Professorship in American History and the author of several books, including Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas; Mexican Workers and Job Politics During World War II (Texas A&M University Press, 2009). He edited and translated The WWI Diary of José de la Luz Sáenz (Texas A&M University Press, 2014)"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: v. I In Defense of My People

Introduction

By Way of a Prologue, Carlos E. Castaneda

Author's Biographical Notes

Counter-Productive Ideas for Americanization in the United States

Mexican Americans Must Be Treated as Americans to Feel American

A Protest against Claims by James E. Ferguson

A Theatrical Presentation that Is Unfair to the American People

Mexican-American Youth, Study Law!

Ignorance as a Cause of Racial Prejudice

Mexican-American Suffrage

Presentations for the Advancement of Mexicans

To the Mexican and Mexican-Texas Communities of Alice, San Diego, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Falfurrias, Cameron County and the Lower Rio Grande Valley

Two Ideals and One Goal

The Problem Facing Mexican Americans

The Evolution of Mexican Americans

The Mexican-American Ideal

Enthusiastic Defense of Mexican Workers

We Ask for Justice in the Raymondville Case

A Protest against a Real Estate Company

Letter to President Coolidge, Protesting the Assassinations in Raymondville

In Defense of the Mexicans

A Just Defense of Mexicans

In Defense of La Raza: An Important Letter to President Coolidge

Let Us Honor the Memory of the Heroes of Mexican Origin

Efforts on Behalf of Mexicans in Jail Accused of Entering this Country Illegally

To the Mexican Youth

Defending La Raza before the Committee on Immigration of the US Congress: Statement by Alonso S. Perales, Attorney at Law

The Convention of the League of Citizens in Edinburg Was Noteworthy

Perales' Address during La Gran Fiesta de La Raza in the San Antonio Auditorium

Protesting the Segregation of our Youth in Government Centers

Education Opportunities that We Should Exploit

The Sanitary Commission Met and Discussed the West Side in the Meeting

Another Protest Regarding Pensions, Prepared by Council 16 of the League of United Latin American Citizens

Defending Humble Mexicans before the Civil Service Commission of the Police and Firefighters of San Antonio, Texas

The Parent-Teacher Association

Requesting School Facilities for Our Children: A Judgement Sought Against the School Board in the District Court

Concerning the Home Beautification Contest

On the Convention of the Anti-Tuberculosis Association of Texas

To the Pan American Round Tables, Rotary Clubs, Lion's Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and other Organizations Interested in Promoting Understanding and Cooperation between the Peoples of Mexico and the United States of America

A Protest against Poems that Are Offensive to Mexican People

Our Forthcoming Convention and the Future of Our School Children

The True Mission of Our League

The Forthcoming Elections and the Future of Our Children

The Next Elections and the Future of Our Raza

The Mexican American and the Recent Elections

The Mexican American and the Recent Elections II

How to Request School Facilities for Our Children

The Education of the Youth Is Obligatory: Chapter 18

Civil Statutes of Texas Compulsory Education

Mexicans: Educate Your Children

v. II In Defense of My People

Commentary on Volume I, In Defense of My People

En Defensa De Mi Raza: My Opinion on the First Volume and its Author, Jose de la Luz Saenz

A Brief Statement on the High Purpose of En Defensa de Mi Raza, Juan Sauceda

A Protest in Support of a Mexican-American Legionnaire

Issues Facing Our Race in the United States, I

Issues Facing Our Race in the United States, II

Issues Facing Our Race in the United States, III

Issues Facing Our Race in the United States, IV

A Letter Praising Dr. Herschel T. Manuel

Presentation by Alonso S. Perales on the Radio Program "La Voz de La Raza," June 8, 1932

Societies as a Means for Progress

Cooperation

The Importance that We Give the Adult Schools

Impressions of a Trip to Mexico

The Formal Petition for the Construction of a Distinctly Mexican Square, Presented by Representatives of LULAC at the Last Meeting of the Centenary Commission

LULAC Protests an Incident, Mexican Texans Forced to Pull a Car with Ropes

Perales Congratulates Calleros and His Colleagues

Attorney Vails Stands Up for the Mexican People, the Strong and Noble Attitude of the District Attorney, His Heart Swells with Resentment Towards the Reproach from El Paso, "We Don't Ask for Privileges, But Equal Rights before the Law"

Mayor Quin Responds to a Letter from Perales

To All the Councils of the League of United Latin American Citizens

Mexicans Are Not to Be Classified as Colored in Texas; an Objection by Maverick and LULAC Members

The Issue Has Ended

Mr. Cleofas Calleros in San Antonio

Our Nation Will Protest the Classification of Mexicans, the Mexican Chamber of Deputies Will Prepare It

More Actions in Support of Mexicans

The Bureau of the Census Declares Mexicans as Whites

Several Clubs Discuss the Case of the Shanties and Sheds in San Antonio

The Animated Words of Attorney Perales

Again, the Classification of Mexicans, It Appears in the Social Security Form

The Classification of Mexicans as Whites

Telegram

The Words of Alonso S. Perales through KMAC Station on the Occasion of an Artistic Contest

The Poll Tax or Voting Tax

A Letter from San Antonio Councils 16, 12 and 2 of the League of United Latin American Citizens to Manufacturers and Businessmen and other Persons from San Antonio Requesting a Higher Daily Wage for Mexican Workers

Mexican Visitors Bring Much Benefit

Perales Congratulates the Junior Chamber of San Diego, Texas

The Insult against Mexicans Is Repeated in San Angelo

Summary of Resolutions by Attny. Alonso Perales, Delegate of Council

During the Ninth Annual Convention of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Houston, Texas, June 5 and 6, 1937

Echoes of the Grand General Convention Celebrated in Houston, Texas

Notes on the Immigration Laws of the United States of America

Speech on Behalf of the Mexican Community of San Antonio Upon Accepting a Community Center Constructed by the City

Congressman John N. Garner (Now Vice President) before the Immigration Committee of the US Congress, Advocating against Restricting the Entry of Mexicans into this Country

Office of the Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives

Defending La Raza before the Immigration Committee of the US Congress

Echoes of the Special LULAC Convention Held in Corpus Christi

A Letter from Dr. Herschel T. Manuel, Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas

Protesting the Segregation of Our Raza in New Braunfels

Perales Addresses the Mayor and the Commissioners of New Braunfels

The True Origin of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Notes:

"Recovering the U.S. Hispanic Literary Heritage"--cover.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1558859284

9781558859289

OCLC:

1256541720

Publisher Number:

99992801302