Mendez v. Westminster: School Desegregation and Mexican-American Rights (Landmark Law Cases & American Society)

This exceptionally well-written, engaging, and fact-filled book traces the Mendez's Herculean efforts against the Boards of Education and their determination at confronting racism and putting an end to segregation in elementary schools in Southern California. The book exposes the conspiracy of multiple school disctricts' exclusionary policies imposed on Americans of Mexican ancestry for 25 years up to the 40's when the case was brought before the Ninth Circuit of Appeals. In addition, it presents the racist notions practiced and held by Anglo-Saxons towards the general populace of Americans of Mexican ancesty. More importantly, it was a catalyst for all the elite civil rights organizations to weigh in on the case and shows how this landmark decision was used in the arguments for the Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954. David Marcus carried the burden of this case and deserves the credit for his intelligence, sensitivity, and deftly molded arguments against segregation then legal across the nation.

Before Brown v. Board of Education, there was Mendez v. Westminster. Important to know our history.

The book was very informative, objective and accurate. I loved the cover as it shows a large picture of the stamp issued in honor of this trial and the families. I used it for a very successful report I gave at the college.

Book was for a friend. He is very happy with book. Story direct, concise and to the point. This is the only book on this topic on the market? G. Olmos

Excellent reading - an important case that is often overlooked. Highly recommend it!

A very detailed account of an amazing and historical landmark case that had been buried and forgotten for decades. Beautifully written!

This is a brilliant book. Before reading the book, I didn't know what an important role the American court system plays in shaping the public debates in the democratic process. It is tempting to say that in a democracy the majority makes the laws and rules over the minority. But the Constitution limits the rights of the majority. Here the battle begins. In this case, in 1945, the situation was that segregation based on race was legal, but only if the segregated group was treated equally. So what is a good strategy for the minority that wants to end segregation? The first step was to bring lawsuits only on grounds of violation of equality. For example, to force a state university to admit black students to their law degree (or to create a segregated law degree for black students which is impractial). To force a public swimming pool to admit "Mexicans" (or to build a segregated swimming pool, impractical again). The next step was to attack segregation more directly. The case Mendez v Westminster ended segregation of Mexican pupils in California and beyond. But since segregation based on race was legal, the argument had to show that segregation itself violated equality (or, rather, the equality part of Plessy v Ferguson). How the two sides in the trial argued their positions, in the narrow situation of schools in Orange County, California, forms the central part of the book (chapters 4-7). The decision of the court is detailed in chapter 8 and chapter 9 tells the story of how Mendez v. Westminster influenced Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 which finally concluded that "separate but equal" is a contradiction in terms in a much broader sense. I would be interested in reading more about how far we have come since then.The American school system still seems to be extremely unequal. Could there be grounds to continue the fight in the courts? Or has this even been pursued? If you read this and know more about these questions, I'd appreciate if you left a comment.

This is an excellent book on several levels. First, it is well written and engaging. Second, it covers the Mendez v. Westminster case very well. Third, the books shows that Mendez v. Westminster is a clear precursor to Brown v. Board of Education.The book shows very clearly that Mendez v. Westminster is an important case in American civil rights. It is unfortunate that the case is not remembered better. The opinion of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reads as if the judge were planning for Plessy v. Ferguson to be overturned.If you are interested in Mexican American civil rights or in African American civil rights, you should read this book.