The Thread of Influence from Mendez v. Westminster to Delgado to Hernandez v. Texas to Brown

Authors

Martha May Tevis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

This paper examines the historical and legal journey toward educational equity for Mexican-American students in the U.S., focusing on key court cases and civil rights leaders that helped shape this path. Beginning with the 1946 Mendez v. Westminster case in California, which marked the first major legal victory against segregation of Mexican-American students, the paper traces the influence of successive cases, including Delgado v. Bastrop in Texas and Hernandez v. Texas, which ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The discussion highlights pivotal legal figures such as A. L. Wirin, Gus García, George I. Sánchez, and Thurgood Marshall, who advocated for equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment and confronted systemic discrimination. Each case built upon its predecessors, establishing precedents that contributed to the broader civil rights movement and inspired the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Through this analysis, the paper illustrates the gradual development of legal arguments against racial and ethnic segregation in education and the growing influence of Mexican Americans within U.S. civil rights legislation.

Comments

Copyright © 2013 Society of Philosophy and History of Education. Posted with permission.

Recommended Citation

Tevis, M. M. (2013). The Thread of Influence from Mendez v. Westminster to Delgado to Hernandez v. Texas to Brown. Journal of Philosophy & History of Education, 63(1), 35-44.

First Page

35

Last Page

44

Publication Title

Journal of Philosophy & History of Education