Guest Column
The Journey to Latino Political Representation
- The Journey to Latino Political Representation
- By John P. Schmal
- The Journey to Latino Political Representation
- By John P. Schmal
- Available through: http://heritagebooks.com/
- Item S4114
- Cost: $24.00
The Journey to Latino Political Representation is a detailed, yet succinct, description of the struggle of Latino Americans to express their political voice from 1822 to the present day. There are essentially two parts to this story: the decline of Hispanic representation in the nineteenth century and the revival of their political voice in the second half of the twentieth century. To explain this, the author discusses Latino population demographics, anti-immigrant legislation and other political influences. In addition, short biographies throughout the book help to familiarize the reader with some of the politicians. The Journey is one of the few works that describes the step-by-step struggle of one cultural group to achieve political representation. In this respect, the book fills a niche that has been neglected for decades. In the preface, Dr. Edward E. Telles, the author of the award-winning, Race in Another America: The Significance of Skin Color in Brazil, states that this book is “an important educational service” that “will be useful in classrooms throughout the United States.” He adds that, “no longer can educators in any part of the United States deny or ignore the political importance of Latinos to their students, as this book makes apparent.” 2007, 5˝x8˝, paper, index, 228 pp.
The Latino Vote: An Introduction
The first chapter summarizes the problems that Latino voters in the U.S. faced in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It highlights the beginning of a new era and a new generation that emerged from World War II to galvanize Latino voters and fight for their rights as citizens. The chapter also gives a summary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and how it enhanced the voting rights of Latinos.
California (1848-1899)
This section of the book outlines the political transition from Mexican California to a California managed by the U.S. It describes the significant representation of Hispanics during the first few decades, but also follows the gradual erosion of Latino voting rights that started in the 1870s and reached its nadir with the passing of the English Literacy Requirement in 1894.
California (1900-1964)
The third chapter details the slow process in which Latinos began to make their way back into the political system of California. With the end of World War II, Edward Roybal became a catalyst for change as he made his name on the Los Angeles City Council. However, overall Latino representation in California in 1964 was still just a dream.
California (1965-1975)
This chapter follows the Chicano movement as Latinos make strides towards representation in various parts of California. Although the progress is slow, it continues, and the establishment of the Chicago Legislative Caucus marks a turning point.
Texas (1836-1964)
This chapter details the early Latino representation in Texas as the rights of Mexican-Americans begin to erode, culminating in the Poll Tax of 1902. As in California, a new generation of Latinos comes forward after World War II to begin the process of regaining representation in their communities.
Texas (1965-1980)
This chapter details the election of key Latinos to office in the Texas State Legislature across the three decades that followed the enactment of the Twenty-Four Amendment and the Voting Rights Act.
The U.S. Congress (1822-1959)
This chapter details the somewhat sporadic representation of Latinos in the U.S. Congress across a 137-year period. The elections of representatives from Florida, New Mexico, California, Puerto Rico and Louisiana are described.
The U.S. Congress (1960-2005)
This chapter summarizes the obvious lack of Hispanic representation in Congress up to 1960 and explains the revival of the Latino voting voice with the election of key individuals to the U.S. Congress starting in the 1960s and accelerating in the subsequent decades.
Texas: Moving into a New Century
This chapter follows the path of Texas elections as Tejano representation in various parts of the state increases dramatically.
Los Angeles City Government
This chapter explores Los Angeles city politics as it evolved from 1848 into the twentieth century. For more than six decades, Latino representation in the City Council essentially disappeared. With the arrival of Edward Roybal in 1949, representation was restored. But when Roybal resigned from the Council to run for Congress in 1962, Hispanic representation essentially disappeared again until 1985. There is considerable discussion about the lawsuits that brought Gloria Molina and other personalities to the City Council.
California (1978-2005)
The final chapter in this book summarizes the steady increase in Chicano representation in the California legislature. There is discussion of the landmark 1982 election that brought Gloria Molina, Richard Alarcon and others into key state positions. This chapter also illustrates how the passing of Proposition 187 in 1994 served as a catalyst to promote Latino political involvement, leading to significantly increased representation by the beginning of the New Millennium.
The author can be found at www.veritasliberabit.blogspot.com e-mail: luis_osio@hotmail.com
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