― 1 ―
This is the story of a large minority group in the United States — our Latin American brothers — generous, warm-hearted, yet
segregated, persecuted and submerged. It is a story of many Anglo-Americans who have shown ignorance in dealing with their
brothers of Mexican descent with injustice, discrimination and disdain. It is not a lovely story. It is profoundly disturbing
for it tells of poverty, delinquency and disease. But it is a story with a hope and a future, for these people have at last
become more civic-minded and are constantly working to assume their place and responsibility in the affairs of their government,
hoping that eventually they can be known as Americans and not Mexicans.
- 1. Housing. The Mexican-American is "hemmed in" an area of great social need — in some areas with a case rate of tuberculosis as high
as 600 per 100,000, in comparison to an over-all County rate of 84 per 100,000.
- 2. Employment. In matters of employment, the Mexican-American is the last to be hired and the first to be fired and subject to the lowest
- 3. The last war had a great effect in the advancement of this segment of the population, for it made us, as soldiers, more
conscious of our responsibility to our Government, and we came back to take advantage of our rights as American Citizens.
- 4. The Community Service Organization started from a political campaign, but was designed to better the community and to encourage
civic participation by registering over 15,000 people, 87% of whom
― 2 ―
went to the polls.
- 5. The political development of these people is extending to a State-wide level, and a meeting of community leaders throughout
the State is being planned for tomorrow at the Biltmore Hotel at 2 p.m.