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The American Gi Forum: In Pursuit of the Dream, 1948-1983

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The US era of civil rights is rightfully remembered for the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices of Black Americans ranging from Martin Luther King to ordinary people like Rosa Parks and the garbage men of Birmingham. In this book, Henry A.J. Ramos tells the story of how Mexican American Veterans created the first nation-wide Mexican American veterans organization, the American GI Forum during the civil rights era of the 1950's and 1960's.

In 1949, the remains of Private Felix Longoria, a World War II soldier were finally returned to his Texas home town and his funeral services could not be held in the local funeral parlor for fear of "offending white citizens". Local veterans contacted Dr. Hector Garcia who had been leading efforts for Mexican American veterans benefits, medical care and jobs(this medical school graduate, fought to move from serving as a combat medic to finally serving as a Medical Doctor in the segregated US Army during the war. Dr. Garcia contacted US Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson who facilitated the soldier's burial at Arlington National Cemetery. This was the beginning of a long relationship between the two leaders related to The US Voting Rights Act, US Education Reform and The War on Poverty.

The American GI Forum organized "Viva Kennedy Clubs" during the presidential election of 1960. John F. Kennedy was elected by a slim margin and Ramos claims that the Mexican American vote in Texas, Illinois and California made the winning difference.

The book goes on to describe how Mexican Americans played influential roles in most aspects of the US Civil Rights Era including King's Marches on Washington and the passage of War on Poverty and The Voting Rights Act legislation by President Johnson. Yes, Mexicans Were There. We were Presente!

Ramon J. Martinez PhD.