Twentieth-Century Texas: A Social and Cultural History

The Quest for Identity and Citizenship: Mexican Americans in Twentieth-Century Texas

41 THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WAS one of challenge, failure, triumph , and change for the Mexican-American population of Texas. During this one-hundred-year period, Mexican Americans engaged in an armed revolt that led to a vicious official reaction and served in every major U.S. war and international conflict. Through it all, Mexican Americans created an identity for themselves as first-class American citizens, an identity that then shaped their struggles for civil rights. Despite the persistence of problems such as poverty, limited opportunity, and racism, Mexican Americans in the 1900s became better educated and developed a vibrant professional class that is gaining increasing levels of national influence. This progress was made possible by the efforts of various individual leaders and organizations that challenged the status quo and ultimately created a more equitable society for all citizens. Given the complexity of Mexican-American history in the twentieth century, it is helpful to divide the story into four periods , in order to analyze the discrete conditions people faced at a given point in time. These four periods are 1900–1930, the immigrant generation; 1930–1960, the Mexican-American generation; The Quest for Identity and Citizenship Mexican Americans in Twentieth-Century Texas Anthony Quiroz ★ 20centtxtext.indd 41 20centtxtext.indd 41 1/18/08 1:44:20 PM 1/18/08 1:44:20 PM 42 TWENTIETH-CENTURY TEXAS 1960–1980, the Chicano generation; and 1980–present, the Hispanic generation. To be sure, people’s actions did not fit neatly into these packages; there was overlap. But, generally speaking, these clusters identify the essential historical trajectory of Texas’ Mexican Americans. Each of these periods presented Mexican Americans with specific challenges, led to different responses, and engendered a unique identity. Emerging from this study are several themes that further illuminate the Mexican-American experience. One crucial theme for understanding Mexican-American history is what theorists refer to as “alterity,” or “otherness,” which means having one’s status defined as standing outside the dominant society. Such groups or individuals are seen as unassimilable, as well as undesirable , and are the victims of discrimination and oppression. At the start of the century the Anglo population generally viewed Mexican Americans as “other,” as different, and as foreigners. Tejanos experienced this treatment even though they claimed Indian and Spanish roots dating back to the eighteenth century. Because of the political and social upheavals of the nineteenth century that separated Texas from Mexico, Mexicans living in Texas after 1836 (or those living in the American Southwest after 1848) became “indigenous immigrants.” As immigrants in their own territory, Tejanos were ascribed second-class citizenship and experienced rampant discrimination and marginalization. 1 The pressures of this second-class status gave rise to two other key themes: identity and citizenship. Throughout the twentieth century Tejanos struggled for recognition as citizens, the equals of Anglos. Voting, suing to end discriminatory practices, organizing communities and workers, and pursuing ever-increasing levels of educational attainment, Tejanos sought their place in Texas society as first-class citizens. The battle for citizenship was driven by the issue of identity. As Tejanos developed a self-image as American citizens, they then sought inclusion as equal citizens. As the social environment around them changed and as the nature of their own American identity also 20centtxtext.indd 42 20centtxtext.indd 42 1/18/08 1:44:21 PM 1/18/08 1:44:21 PM THE QUEST FOR IDENTITY AND CITIZENSHIP 43 shifted throughout the century, so too did their goals and methods of resistance. In the first half of the century, for example, Tejano identity formed within the context of a society that conceived of itself as white and Protestant and whose bloodlines and intellectual and cultural traditions were traceable to northern and western Europe . People from other parts of the world with different histories, features, traditions, and religions were all viewed with suspicion and considered as potentially unworthy of the appellation “citizen.” Understanding this, Mexican-American activists argued for acceptance as members of the white race. In the 1960s and 1970s, however, many activists redefined themselves as Chicanos who were distinct from whites. These individuals emphasized the indigenous portion of their roots, shunning the Spanish, European oppressor in their genetic past. More recently, Mexican-American identity has metamorphosed into a new manifestation: Hispanic.2 One final theme is immigration. Unlike European immigrants who stand separated from their roots and culture by time and an ocean...