Multicultural Education Institute’s Pursuing the Dream: An American Civil Rights Pioneer Reflects on Endeavors for Justice

Bringing History to Life

Despite rain and flight delays, Sylvia Mendez and her sister flew to the conference held in late February and early March in Edmond, Oklahoma. Mendez had agreed to speak and share her legacy about the first American desegregation case in 1946, Mendez v. Westminster. The conference’s theme of pursuing the dream was embraced in her story. Although Mendez (2014) was just 8 years old at the time of the case, her memory shows clarity. Her father felt his children should have an equal educational opportunity. She shared how her father wanted to enroll her in a particular school near their house because the Whites only school had better books and equipment than the Mexican schools. Mendez’s autobiographical story conveyed a powerful message about justice to the adult learners in the audience. We can educate others to develop compassion, feel responsibility, and seek justice.

As a child, Mendez (2014) did not completely realize what her father was fighting for. She laughed and explained she also wanted to attend the school for White children, but her reason was the school’s spectacular playground. Although her playground was just dirt, she especially remembered the monkey bars at the Whites only school. Furthermore, she recalled being treated as inferior with her poignant story about the community pool. The White children could go every day of the week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so forth. However, Mexican and Africa American children were only allowed in the pool on Sunday because the water would be drained before the new week. Her voice revealed deep sadness at this particular act of exclusion.

Mendez’s defining testimony brings history to life in negative and positive ways. Negative ways because of the painful truth. Still, we can find positive ways when we choose to learn and protect justice for each and every person. I understand a powerful viewpoint in her autobiographical story, because her reflections also reveal a child’s perspective for the landmark Mendez v. Westminster case.

Challenging Segregation and Paving the Way for Justice

Many people learn about the famous Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, which ended formal segregation for American public schools in 1954. Yet, many textbooks and historical documents do not mention Mendez’s (2014) 1946 case that struck the first blow in the fight for desegregation of schools. She began her presentation, “From Poster Child to Advocate,” by showing a brief documentary of her family’s story. One day, her aunt took her children and Mendez to enroll at the school for White children. The school wanted to enroll her aunt’s children because they had light skin; however, Mendez was not welcomed because she had dark skin and a Mexican surname. She and her siblings were denied enrollment. I particularly admire her aunt’s courage that day, as she grabbed all the children and voiced to the administration the injustice of segregation.

Mendez (2014) described her father’s tenacity. At the time, he was unaware how significant Mendez v. Westminster would be in American history. The family’s attorney sent all the case-related information to the attorneys for Brown v. Board of Education. The fight for justice became a collaborative effort for many minority groups to have the same opportunities. Mendez carries on her father’s fight and shares her story to all. We listen and hope to preserve history as well as continue the path to justice.

The Struggle to Bring Justice Takes Perpetual Will

The audience witnessed Mendez’s (2014) strength of character as she spoke of her father, Gonzalo, who felt hurt and rejected by the school but inspired to fight for equal educational opportunities. Although the initial fight was her father’s endeavor for justice, Mendez has become a leader in the civil rights movement. She spoke at the trial. The Whites only school claimed Mexican children could not speak English; the language problem was the main excuse for segregation. Mendez laughed again and said, “I did testify.” Her testimony was to prove the children could speak English. Language acquisition was the façade for California schools to turn down Mexican students.

Mendez (2014) remembered how her father and four other Mexican parents filed a lawsuit. They wanted the American dream for their children too. These parents represented and acted on behalf of approximately 5,000 Mexican American children. In addition, Japanese and Jewish organizations filed papers to support Mendez. Many groups were treated unfairly. As adults, we learn that people in the United States have freedom to pursue the dream in many regards, but we must also be aware of different and perhaps painful backgrounds. A person’s background can shape what she knows to be just; this, in turn, potentially limits or transcend a person’s thinking. My reflections suggest that adult educators share history with honesty, so we have a deep understanding of our society to improve it. Multicultural education gives value to often ignored voices and discovers multiple layers of meaning. In many ways, education is responsible for shaping basic moral views toward truth, aesthetics, and—foremost—a devotion to justice.

After her family won the desegregation case, Mendez (2014) reflected on her childlike innocence and excitement to join the new school. Everything went well until recess. She was thinking about playing on the monkey bars, separated by electric fences for so long. However, then came shouts as the White children mercilessly taunted Mendez. She felt heartbroken and did not want to go to a school where other children hated her just because of the color of her skin. Mendez’s voice grew emotional as she shared her father’s words at that time: “You have to stay in this school. This is what we have been fighting for, because you are equal to them.”

Our Responsibility to Fight Against Current Forms of Injustice

As an adult learner, I reflected on and listened to a civil rights pioneer’s fight against a world where people were openly segregated. Many people of our nation’s past have faced harsh exclusions and limited opportunities. Mendez’s autobiographical reflections, which received a standing ovation from the audience, bring history to life. We have a responsibility to pass on her family’s legacy of courage, which she has shared throughout her lifetime to educate others. Her heritage is Mexican and Puerto Rican, and we all have heritages to preserve. That said, we should also respect another person’s heritage. If we reflect and remember the fortitude of others before us, we can carry on their work. To encourage all people to pursue the American dream, adults have a responsibility for awareness and education for the common good.

Mendez (2014), who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011, reminds us new forms of injustice exist today. She observed, “It has come back full circle. We are more segregated than before, by poverty, by class, and by demographics.” Indeed, people may flee from inner-city problems, and we are left with a de facto segregation in present-day society. Dangers of segregation can perpetuate stereotypes, fear, and ignorance. For this reason, Mendez recalled and shared her promise to her late mother to educate others about her family’s struggle against segregation and the fight for equal educational opportunity. I hope we all realize a common responsibility to fight against forms of injustice while we also educate others to pursue the beauty of their dreams.