2. Early LULAC Documents

As LULAC expanded to include more members and more councils nationwide (particularly during and after the 1960s), the group tackled a wide range of causes -- and grew to include an equally wide range of conflicting opinions.

For example, the group's decision to host Texas Governor John Connally at its 1967 convention led to debate within the organization and picketing by Mexican American farm workers and members of the American GI Forum, who were critical of Connally's violent handling of the melon strike the year prior (explored in another collection on this site). At the same time, many LULAC members, including Dr. Hector P. Garcia of the AGIF and William Bonilla, were also active in South Texas labor causes (also explored in other collections on the site).

For its first few decades, though, LULAC’s strategy for fighting discrimination was aggressive assimilation. The group rejected the US government's inclusion of "Mexican" as a racial category on the 1930 census and sought to demonstrate that not only were its members not interested in Texas returning to Mexico, but that they were enthusiastically aligned with the prevailing US power structure.

Rather than openly opposing white supremacy by, say, uniting with African Americans to counter Jim Crow racism, LULAC instead made the case that Hispanic Americans, like their Anglo Texas neighbors, were, in fact, white.

The group also took efforts to establish that its members were devout Christians and patriotic Americans (and Texans), who could be counted on to support the policies of the Texas and US federal governments—which, at times, included deportation policies that targeted Mexican immigrants and the violent repression of Mexican American farmworkers.

Below are two early LULAC documents that reflect this strategy.

The first, an excerpt from LULAC's 1935 convention program, shows the group's interest in establishing, first and foremost, its patriotism for the US and Texas, as well as its religious bona fides.

The second, a 1945 editorial from the group's official publication (just after the conclusion of World War 2), decries discrimination against Mexican Americans for several reasons, including their whiteness.

A) LULAC Convention Program, 1935

PROGRAM OF THE SEVENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS at HARLINGEN, TEXAS, JUNE 1st and 2nd, 1935

THE PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of American and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

WASHINGTON’S PRAYER

Almighty God, Who has given us this good land for our heritage, we humbly beseech Thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of Thy favor and glad to do Thy will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitude brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endow with Thy spirit of wisdom those to whom in Thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that through obedience to Thy law, we may show forth Thy praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in Thee to fail; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU

The eyes of Texas are upon you

All the live long day.

The eyes of Texas are upon you

You can not get away.

Do not think you can escape them

At night or early in the morn

The Eyes of Texas are upon you

‘Till Gabriel blows his horn.

AMERICA

My country, ‘tis of thee

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died

Land of the pilgrim’s pride

From ev’ry mountain side

Let freedom ring!

My native country, thee

Land of the noble, free

They name I love;

I love they rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills;

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above

God Bless her native land;

Firm may she ever stand

Through storm and night;

When wild tempests rave,

Ruler of wind and wave,

Do Thou our country save

By Thy great might

For her our prayers shall rise

To God above the skies;

On Him we wait

Thou Who art ever nigh,

Guarding with watchful eye,

To Thee aloud we cry,

God save the state!

B) LULAC News Editorial, 1945

“We do not serve Mexicans here.” “You will have to get out as no Mexicans are allowed.” “Your uniform and service ribbons mean nothing here. We still do not allow Mexicans.”

These, and many other stronger worded ones, are the embarrassing and humiliating retorts given our returning veteran of Latin American descent and their families. They may all be worded differently, and whereas, some are toned with hate and loathness while others are toned with sympathy and remorse, still the implication remains that these so-called “Mexican” are considered unworthy of equality, regardless of birthright or service. This situation is ironic indeed, in view of the fact that these same “Mexicans” have just finished helping this country to defeat countries to the east and west who would impose upon the world a superior people, a superior culture.

Why this hate, this prejudice, this tendency to discriminate against a people whose only fault seems to be that they are heirs of a culture older than any known “American Culture;” to find themselves a part of a land and people they have helped to build and defend; to find themselves a part of a minority group whose acquired passive nature keeps them from boldly demanding those rights and privileges which are rightfully theirs. Can it be the result of differences in race, nationality, language, loyalty, intelligence or ability?

There is no difference in race. Latin Americans or so-called “Mexicans”, are Caucasian or white. There are only three races, the Caucasian, the Negroid, and the Mongoloid. Racial Characteristics places the Latin American among the white. Who dares contradict nature. There is no difference in nationality. These “Mexicans” were born and bred in this country and are just as Americans as Jones or Smith. In fact, the ancestors of these “Mexicans” were here before those of Jones or Smith decided to take up abode. Difference in language? No. These “Mexicans” speak English. Accented perhaps, in some cases, but English all over the United States seems to be accented. That these “Mexicans” can speak Spanish is not a detriment; it is an asset. After all, there are not too many people in this country who can boast a knowledge of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Difference in loyalty How can that be when all revere the same stars and stripes; when they don the same service uniforms for the same principles? Difference in intelligence and ability? Impossible. For every profession and category of work, from menial labor to the most scientific and technical matter, there is a qualified group of “Mexicans”. All they need is the opportunity minus the discrimination and jealousy…

SOURCE:

1933-1972 LULAC News, San Antonio Express, and San Antonio News articles/news clippings on prominent LULAC events, history and people, 1933 March to 1972 April 23, 150.2.13, Box: 2 DeLeon, Folder: 13. Dr. Arnoldo De Leon Collection of Mexican American Research Papers, Coll-150. Special Collections and Archives, Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.