Burro Genius

Mexican Americans form a significant cultural group within United States society. Mexico and the US share a long history of interaction and conflict, with significant portions of today’s United States having originally belonged to Mexico. After the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), Mexico ceded around half of its original territory to the USA. Mexicans residing in regions newly annexed by the United States—which became new states such as California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, among others—witnessed a radical transformation of their lives.

Mexican immigration to the US increased after the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917), with Mexicans seeking better economic opportunities. Hispanic immigrants faced many difficulties in their new lives. They lived in segregated and often poor urban areas and were treated as second-class citizens, confronting discriminatory social barriers due to their skin color, language, and class. The 1920s and 1930s saw instances of mob violence against Latino communities, followed by forced deportations of Mexican people known as “Mexican Repatriation Programs.” The economic crisis during the Great Depression severely impacted Mexican Americans, who were demonized in the sociopolitical sphere as immigrants who usurped jobs from white Americans. During World War II, many Mexican Americans participated in the armed forces; however, as many Mexican Americans relocated to urban areas after WWII, systemic problems like racial discrimination, lack of jobs and housing, inability to acquire land, and educational barriers became evident.

For decades, Mexican American students attended separate “Mexican schools” based on racial criteria and their English skills. The 1947 Mendez v. Westminster case ruled that the segregation of Mexican students in California was unconstitutional. However, desegregation did not solve every problem: As Villaseñor’s story demonstrates, racism within the classroom persisted. Many English teachers discriminated against Spanish-speaking students, with prejudices often resulting in bullying. Underqualified teachers disregarded cultural differences and the particularities of bilingualism, while learning disabilities like dyslexia were similarly misunderstood. Such practices inhibited the academic progress of Mexican American children and contributed to their marginalization. As a Mexican American child growing up in mid-20th-century California, Villaseñor illuminates the community’s challenges within the educational system and the struggle to maintain their cultural heritage.

Mexican Americans remain a vibrant community, inextricably connected to the history of the United States. However, they continue to struggle with discriminatory policies and treatment, while immigration issues continue to provoke tensions between Mexico and the US.