Encyclopedia of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement

Mexican Americans, like many other Americans, have a long history of struggle for equality and civil rights. Yet only in recent decades has that history begun to be included as part of mainstream American history. Bringing together a wealth of information on the Mexican American struggle for civil rights, this authoritative encyclopedia provides factual up-to-date information on the concepts, issues, plans, legislation, court decisions, events, organizations, and people involved in that long fight. It includes such leading figures as Corky Gonzales, Héctor Pérez GarcÍa, Jovita Idar, and Alonso Perales, as well as many secondary leaders, and is rounded out with objective discussions of such topics as leadership, the movimiento, lynching, political exclusion, voting, and stereotyping. Appendices include a chronology and several basic documents critical to an understanding of the Mexican American Civil Rights struggle.

The first comprehensive encyclopedia on this aspect of Mexican American history, the book fills a noticeable gap in the literature. It includes more than 300 entries, six appendices, sources of additional information, cross-referencing, and a detailed index that makes the history readily available. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the Mexican American experience.

MATT S. MEIER is Patrick A. Donohoe, S.J. Professor Emeritus at Santa Clara University. A pioneer in researching and teaching the history of Mexican Americans, his earlier books include Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary (Greenwood, 1997), Mexican American Biographies (Greenwood, 1988), the update of Carey McWilliams's North from Mexico (1990), Dictionary of Mexican American History (Greenwood, 1981), and The Chicanos (1972).

MARGO GUTIÉRREZ is Mexican American and Latino Studies librarian and bibliographer at the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection, University of Texas, Austin. She is the coauthor of The Border Guide (1992). Library at the University of Texas―Austin.