Leaders of the Mexican American Generation: Biographical Essays

Leaders of the Mexican American Generation explores the lives of a wide range of influential members of the Mexican American community in the United States between 1920 and 1965 who paved the way for major changes in their social, political, and economic status within the United States. From feminist Alice Dickerson Montemayor to San Antonio attorney Gus Garcia to civil rights activist and scholar Ernesto Galarza, the subjects of these biographies include some of the most prominent idealists and actors of the time. Whether debating in a court of law, writing for a major newspaper, producing reports for governmental agencies, organizing workers, holding public office, or otherwise shaping space for the Mexican American identity in the United States, these subjects embody the core values and diversity of their generation. More than a chronicle of personalities who left their mark on Mexican American history, Leaders of the Mexican American Generation cements this community as a major player in the history of activism and civil rights in the United States. It is a rich collection of historical biographies that will enlighten and enliven our understanding of Mexican American history.