Shining a Spotlight on History: Desegregation in California Schools

 At Chapman University in the City of Orange a new effort is taking flight. It is called "MvW 5,001."  That stands for the landmark court case of Mendez vs. Westminster on behalf of 5,000 Mexican-American students in Orange County. (Interested parties are the "Plus One.")  Quite often, people are unaware of the landmark case in 1947 -- which ended school segregation in the state of California. Four years earlier, Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez had attempted to enroll their children in the all-white Westminster school, but were denied because their children were of Mexican descent. The Mendez's and four other families --sued-- and won. That landmark case paved the way for the 1954 Brown vs. The Board of Education, which desegregated all U.S. schools.

Chapman University wants to honor those families for their dedication. They have created a permanent home for the MvW Archives and developed programs that study the outcome of the case and its impact on law, history, culture and education. I was the emcee yesterday for this event on a hot day! There to celebrate the new effort? Students, teachers and Silvia Mendez, the daughter of these civil rights activists. Last year, President Obama presented her family with the prestigious 'Medal of Freedom' which she was wearing when I introduced her.

Perhaps this is a page of history you might want to read again....  

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