They Called Them Greasers: Anglo Attitudes toward Mexicans in Texas, 1821–1900

by Arnoldo de León

Tension between Anglos and Tejanos has existed in the Lone Star State since the earliest settlements. Such antagonism has produced friction between the two peoples, and whites have expressed their hostility toward Mexican Americans unabashedly and at times violently. This seminal work in the historical literature of race relations in Texas examines the attitudes of whites toward Mexicans in nineteenth-century Texas. For some, it will be disturbing reading. But its unpleasant revelations are based on extensive and thoughtful research into Texas' past. The result is important reading not merely for historians but for all who are concerned with the history of ethnic relations in our state. They Called Them Greasers argues forcefully that many who have written about Texas's past—including such luminaries as Walter Prescott Webb, Eugene C. Barker, and Rupert N. Richardson—have exhibited, in fact and interpretation, both deficiencies of research and detectable bias when their work has dealt with Anglo-Mexican relations. De León asserts that these historians overlooled an austere Anglo moral code which saw the morality of Tejanos as "defective" and that they described without censure a society that permitted traditional violence to continue because that violence allowed Anglos to keep ethnic minorities "in their place." De León's approach is psychohistorical. Many Anglos in nineteenth-century Texas saw Tejanos as lazy, lewd, un-American, subhuman. In De León's view, these attitudes were the product of a conviction that dark-skinned people were racially and culturally inferior, of a desire to see in others qualities that Anglos preferred not to see in themselves, and of a need to associate Mexicans with disorder so as to justify their continued subjugation.

Genres: History, Sociology

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Arnoldo De León is Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at Angelo State University, where he served as a member of the faculty from 1973 until 2015. He earned his BA from Angelo State, and his MA (1971) and Ph.D. (1974) from Texas Christian University.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read for my history class a while back but really enjoyed knowing what anglo attitudes were towards mexicans.

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and concise book, but one that leaves much to be desired. de Leon seems to fall into the "Victim" card and a lot of "Us v. them." mentalities that are prevalent in early Chicano/a history. Nonetheless, an interesting book.

[Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy accounts and narratives put together that just highlight the history that won't make it to US History classrooms!! Great read especially if you are from Texas, South Texas especially!! 📚📚♥️♥️

[Danelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it against my will for class, but nevertheless it was interesting to know what people thought of Mexicans back then.

[Antonio De Cunzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well researched, but very repetitive and poorly organized.