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Supreme Court case Hernandez vs. Texas
In the 1954 Supreme Court case Hernandez vs. Texas, the court acknowledged that Hispanic Americans were not being treated as "whites." Hispanics were recognized as a separate class of people being greatly discriminated against. This case paved the way for later cases and gave Hispanic Americans a legal means to attack all types of discrimination throughout the US. The case was also the first Supreme Court case argued and briefed by Mexican American attorneys. -
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Bracero Program
The Bracero Program, which began August 4, 1942, was an agreement between Mexico and the US to allow Mexicans to work in fields in the US temporarily without being legal residents. Their contracts were written in English, so they signed without knowing the terms and their rights. The Mexicans may have greatly contributed to the economy, but they still suffered harassment by local authorities. By the 60s, the majority of Mexicans were entering the US illegaly. As a result, the program was ended. -
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Operation Wetback
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Delano grape boycott
In 1965, the newly created United Farm Workers (UFW) began supporting a grape growers' strike in California. The workers boycotted the grapes and went on strike until they would be treated better as workers. An influential man named Ceasar Chavez helped keep the boycott alive through hunger strikes and marches. The movement soon spread throughout the US, and in 1970, employers reached an agreement with the workers. The agreement helped pave the way for the CALRA 5 years later. -
March from Delano to Sacramento
In order to help continue to fuel support for both the UFW and the ongoing boycott of grapes, Ceasar Chavez staged a march from Delano, California to Sacramento. The march started with about 1500 supporters and was supposed to be a way to show that the UFW was still strong and not going to quit. Once Chavez got to Sacramento on April 11, over 150,000 people were marching with him. The success helped the grape boycott spread throughout all of CA, even by whites. -
Ceasar Chavez leads fast in Delano
During the grape boycott, success began diminishing and violence looming. This troubled UFW leader Ceasar Chavez, who had been the reason for the successful movement, so he started a fast on February 14, 1968. Along with other supporters, the UFW, and even Robert Kennedy (on the last day), Chavez fasted for 28 days to keep support for the UFW. The fast helped to focus (inter)national attention to the strike and to remind the strikers what they would have to sacrifice to achieve their goals. -
First of East L.A. "Blowouts"
Frustrated by unfair treatment, East Los Angeles high school students began a series of walk-outs on March 6, 1968. During these "Blowouts", students simply walked out of school during classes, joining their fellow students in protest. They demanded clases in Mexican history, bilingual education, more Hispanic teachers, and more control over the schools. These protests soon spread to many cities with large Hispanic populations, helping to end discrimination in education towards Mexicans. -
California Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975
In response to the growing support for the UFW, California passed the CALRA.The Act guarantees both justice for all agricultural workers and stable labor relations. The Act protects farmers' rights to full freedom of association, self-organization, selection of their own representatives, and to negotiate the terms of their employment. It also prevents employers from interfering with the selection of reps., the right of self-organization, and activities done for collective bargaining/mutual aid. -
Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1975
In 1975, as a result of non-English speakers testifying about the discrimination they faced at the polls, the Voting Rights Act that was passed a decade prior was amended to cover minorities that spoke languages other than English. It became required for bilingual ballots to be provided for those who did not speak English, ensuring that Mexican-American citizens are able to finally have a say in the US government. The Amendments also permanently banned literacy tests.