The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Dr. Héctor P. García, a World War II veteran and founder of the American GI Forum, traces the organization's origins and activism and discusses current Chicano struggles. García returned from the War to find that discrimination was still a large problem in many of the government offices and local businesses in Texas. He was moved to take action after a funeral home in Three Rivers, Texas refused to bury Private Felix Longoria, a soldier who died in the war. The incident encouraged García to form the forum so that it could help Chicano soldiers access services for veterans, but it soon expanded its focus to helping the Chicano community at large as they worked to improve public education and end discriminatory hiring practices. The Forum was one of the first Chicano organizations to use the courts to challenge discrimination and García discusses why previous activists were hesitant to turn to the legal system. Because of his efforts, García and his family became the targets of violent threats. But there were also some positive consequences: he witnessed the GI Forum's expansion and became friends with several federal level politicians who invited him to speak at political events and even offered him an ambassadorship. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. in 1967 and as Commissioner to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. He represented former President Kennedy for the signing of the special treaty with the West Indies. He now lives in Corpus Christi, TX. García then discusses the current problems facing the Chicano community. He believes the civil rights gains of the sixties and seventies are slowly deteriorating under the Reagan Administration and Mexican Americans are facing increasing discrimination from government agencies. Keywords: American GI Forum, Arlington National Cemetery, Army Depots, Bussing, Chicano Movement, Citizenship, Civil Rights Movement, Colorado, Congress, Corpus Christi, Discrimination, Draft Boards, Education, Edward Kennedy, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Family, Federal Government, Felix Longoria, Food Stamps, Harry Truman, Hector P. Garcia, Hospitals, Hubert Humphrey, John Kennedy, John Lyle, Legal System, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Mexican American War, Mexican Schools, Michigan, Naval Air Station, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Philippines, Post Office, Racism, Reagan Administration, Robert Kennedy, Schools, Segregation, Social Security, Social Services, South Texas, Texas Revolution, Three Rivers, Tlatelolco, United Nation, Veterans, Washington, White House, World War II. Broadcast date: 1981-12-02.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), and Garcia, Hector P., 1914-1996 (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
11/27/1981
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin