Civil Rights Movements in the United States

Learning Objectives

• Discuss discrimination faced by Hispanic/Latino Americans and Asian Americans
• Describe the influence of the African American civil rights movement on Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and LGBTQ civil rights movements
• Describe federal actions to improve opportunities for people with disabilities
• Describe discrimination faced by religious minorities

Overview of Discrimination in American Society

• Many groups face challenges in achieving equality and fairness, often overlooked due to smaller population size compared to women and African Americans.
• Discrimination can be longstanding and severe, even if organized movements are relatively new.

Hispanic/Latino Civil Rights

• Definitions:

  • Hispanic: Refers to native speakers of Spanish or those from Spanish-speaking countries.
  • Latino: Refers to individuals from, or descendants of, Latin America.
  • Not all Hispanic individuals are Latino, and vice versa. For instance, people from Spain are Hispanic but not Latino; people from Brazil are Latino but not Hispanic.
  • The term "Latinx" is increasingly preferred as it is gender-neutral.

• Historical Context:

  • Many Latinos became part of the U.S. population post-1845 with Texas annexation and post-1848 after the War with Mexico.
  • Many were subject to discrimination, often relegated to low-paying jobs as migrant workers and laborers.
  • The population of Spanish speakers grew after the 1898 Spanish-American War with Puerto Rico's incorporation.
  • The 1917 Jones Act granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans.

• Discriminatory Practices:

  • Early 20th century saw violence against Mexicans and Mexican Americans; voting rights were denied.
  • During the Great Depression, many Mexican Americans were deported to free up jobs for Anglo-Americans.

• World War II Impact:

  • Mexicans were allowed to immigrate as farmworkers under the Bracero Program to support U.S. troops.

• Activism and Legal Advances:

  • In 1903, Mexican and Japanese farmworkers formed the first union representing agricultural laborers.
  • The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was formed in 1929 to combat discrimination.
  • Significant civil rights advances occurred post-World War II; activists utilized similar tactics as African Americans to combat racism.

• Key Legal Case:

  • Mendez v. Westminster (1947): Challenged the segregation of Mexican American students. The court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional, a landmark victory for civil rights.

• Continued Discrimination:

  • Despite advances, discrimination persisted. In the 1950s, Operation Wetback deported over three million Mexican immigrants and some Mexican Americans.
  • In 1965, Congress limited immigration from the Western Hemisphere to 120,000 newcomers.

• Civil Rights Movement Evolution:

  • The Mexican American civil rights movement became more radical, influenced by the African American civil rights movement, emphasizing terms like "Brown Power" and identity as Chicanos, highlighting pride in their hybrid cultural background.
  • Education reform was a significant focus for Mexican American activists, paralleling the efforts of African Americans seeking equality in education.