The Making Of A Civil Rights Leader (hispanic Civil Rights)
by Jose Angel Gutierrez /
2005 / English / EPUB
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Born in 1944, José Angel Gutiérrez grew up in a time when Mexicans
and Mexican Americans in Texas and the Southwest attended separate
schools and avoided public facilities and restaurants that were
designated "Whites Only." Despite the limits of segregation and
rural culture in Texas, the passion to learn and to educate others,
as well as to undo injustice, burned in his belly from an early
age. Gutiérrez offers portraits of his early influences, from his
father’s own pursuit of knowledge and political involvement, to his
Mexican pre-school teacher’s dedication to bilingual-bicultural
education which did not exist in public schools at that time, and
to his mother’s courage and persistence, taking up migrant field
work to provide for her family after the death of young Gutiérrez’s
father.
Born in 1944, José Angel Gutiérrez grew up in a time when Mexicans
and Mexican Americans in Texas and the Southwest attended separate
schools and avoided public facilities and restaurants that were
designated "Whites Only." Despite the limits of segregation and
rural culture in Texas, the passion to learn and to educate others,
as well as to undo injustice, burned in his belly from an early
age. Gutiérrez offers portraits of his early influences, from his
father’s own pursuit of knowledge and political involvement, to his
Mexican pre-school teacher’s dedication to bilingual-bicultural
education which did not exist in public schools at that time, and
to his mother’s courage and persistence, taking up migrant field
work to provide for her family after the death of young Gutiérrez’s
father.
In this intensely narrated memoir, Gutiérrez details his rise
from being beaten down by racist political and agricultural
interests in South Texas to his leadership role in the Chicano
civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Complemented by
photos from his personal archives, Gutiérrez recalls his struggle
for education, his early baptism in grass-roots political
organizing, and his success in creating one of history’s most
successful third party movements, La Raza Unida Party.
In this intensely narrated memoir, Gutiérrez details his rise
from being beaten down by racist political and agricultural
interests in South Texas to his leadership role in the Chicano
civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Complemented by
photos from his personal archives, Gutiérrez recalls his struggle
for education, his early baptism in grass-roots political
organizing, and his success in creating one of history’s most
successful third party movements, La Raza Unida Party.
Along the way, Gutiérrez earned college and law degrees, as well
as a Ph. D. in Political Science. He was elected or appointed to
school boards, commissions, judgeships and party chairmanships,
all with the single-minded purpose of extending equality to
Mexican Americans and other minorities in the United States.
Through his tireless efforts, he crossed paths with African
American and Native American civil rights leaders, Mexican
presidents, and other international figures.
Along the way, Gutiérrez earned college and law degrees, as well
as a Ph. D. in Political Science. He was elected or appointed to
school boards, commissions, judgeships and party chairmanships,
all with the single-minded purpose of extending equality to
Mexican Americans and other minorities in the United States.
Through his tireless efforts, he crossed paths with African
American and Native American civil rights leaders, Mexican
presidents, and other international figures.