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A Contribution to American Civil Rights

At the end of September, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed Assembly Bill (AB) 531 which would have required public school curriculum include the history of the landmark California school desegregation case Mendez vs. Westminster. In his veto message, Schwarzenegger said he consistently opposed attempts to include specific events in the areas of instruction. Other bills denied at the same time included recognizing the roles of Italian Americans, Filipinos in WWII, information about Native American tribal organizations, and the actions of Southeast Asians in the Vietnam conflict.

I understand the danger of opening the floodgate to one individual then slamming the door to every other worthy topic. I know the resentment and anger that can breed. I also understand that a blanket policy is a way to keep from having to think deeply about each individual case. It preempts any discussion at all about why we selected the topics we already require our students to study. The problem is that our standards stagnate while the world keeps turning. Somebody certainly made the decision about what would be required learning for our children years ago. But how long ago was that? And how has our world changed since?

Then again, I know I’m biased. As the writer/ producer of the documentary, “Mendez vs. Westminster: For All the Children / Para Todos los Niños,” I have been a certified “Mendez Maniac” for over a decade.

The day I learned about segregation happening in my home state of California – in my hometown – is the day the walls spun, my world view collapsed and was reborn in a whole new way. Anger still seethes right beneath the surface of my smile for being denied the truth: the American civil rights was fought all across the country by people of all colors. And in California, Latinos, joined by Asian Americans, African Americans, Jews, and Anglos, fought to open the doors of equality and paved the way to Brown v. Board of Education. This history touches each and every American, but not one word is mentioned in our history books.

Did I mention NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall and then-California governor Earl Warren were involved in the Mendez case? Mendez made California the first state to end school segregation in 1947. Seven years later, Marshall used the friend of the court brief he’d submitted to Mendez as a model for the argument in Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954, Earl Warren was now the Supreme Court Chief Justice who wrote the unanimous Brown decision desegregating American seven years after desegregating California. Not one word.

Since completing my Mendez film five years ago, Sylvia Mendez (eldest daughter of lead plaintiff Gonzalo and his wife Felicitas) and I have traveled the country doing presentations for all who will listen. Harvard, Stanford, the Smithsonian, PS 114 in the Bronx, Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, California. Here are some thoughts from the students there:

Dear Sandra,
“I thought that your presentation was very eye opening. Before you came I had never heard about this case. It made me so angry that I haven’t been taught such an important history.”

“I had no idea that the Mendez family helped end segregation in California schools. I was aware that schools had been segregated but I thought that the Brown v. Board of Education was responsible for integrating our schools.”

“I, myself, used to be a resident in Westminster, California. I was completely unaware of this issue.”

“Racism is so much more than a black-white problem.”

“One thing that disappointed me in the presentation was that not every person in the United States is aware of the situation which happened.”

“I was totally inspired by your presentation and hope that this important case gets put in history books.”

The letters are signed by students whose names span the diversity of all America today: Nowreen, Kyle, Imani, Lisa, Patyana, Ashley, Carolina, Nhi, Jon, Brandon, Yesenia, Elias.

These young students know that Mendez teaches important lessons about all of us. Mendez ended segregation not only in our public schools, but had a ripple effect ending segregation in public place that impacted Italians, Filipinos, Asians, Native American and people all colors all across California and the southwest. Opening the door for Mendez in our schools today opens the door for all of us, just as it did in 1947.

California’s governor may not see the unique, important and collaborative lessons of civil rights in Mendez vs. Westminster, but he can’t stop us. If we push for our individual schools teach Mendez, we can change our children’s world view, and doing so, change our world.

Mendez reveals the truth: the American civil rights struggle is not only a black and white issue; it’s about all of us, everyday. We are all connected in an invisible and electric way. A governor’s veto can’t stop that. And bump in the road will not stop Mendez vs. Westminster from finding its way into our schools. Not when people like Ankur, Brandon, Yesenia, Elias and you and me keep pushing to be included in our classrooms. Mendez is that important and it will never be forgotten again.

By Sandra Robbie