Prior to the 1950s, most Mexican-American children living in Texas attended segregated public schools. In post-World War II Bastrop, Mexican-American schoolchildren still attended the Mexican-only “Mina Ward School.” In 1948, a group of professionals, including future civil rights icons Attorney Gustavo Garcia, University of Texas Professor George I Sanchez, and Dr. Hector P. Garcia filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a group of Mexican-American children attending the racially segregated schools in Bastrop and three other districts. The American G.I. Forum and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), both established civil rights organizations, were instrumental in this effort. The resulting desegregation case became known as Delgado et al vs. Bastrop Independent School District after one of the plaintiffs, Minerva Delgado.
Outcome – Federal Judge Ben H. Rice ruled in their favor, ending legal segregation of Mexican Americans in Texas. To commemorate the event, on September 23, 2017, a Texas Historical Marker was unveiled at the site of the former school, and a city park was dedicated honoring Ms. Delgado and the students of Mina Ward School.
Event invitation, September 2017.
