A History of the Mexican-American People: Revised Edition

by Julian Samora

When A History of the Mexican-American People was first published in 1977 it was greeted with enthusiasm for its straightforward, objective account of the Mexican-American role in U.S. history. Since that time the text has been used with great success in high school and university courses. This new, revised edition of the book continues the history of Mexican-Americans up to the early 1990s. Samora covers such topics as the exploration and northward Spanish expansion into what is now the United States, Mexico’s independence from Spain, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American War, the impact of the Mexican Revolution on both sides of the border, and the effect of mass migrations from Mexico to the United States. This edition also contains a revised chapter on Chicano contributions to the art, literature, music, and theater from the mid-1950s through the early 1990s, as well as a new chapter on the religious life of Mexican-Americans.

270 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Julian Samora was an esteemed Notre Dame professor in the Department of Sociology from 1959 to 1985. Notre Dames's Institute for Latino Studies Julian Samora Chair in Latino Studies was established in his honor in 1998.

Julian Samora co-founded the Southwest Council of La Raza, which became the National Council of La Raza, and helped found the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the Southwest Voter Registration and Education Project (SWVREP). He served on numerous governmental and private boards and commissions, including the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the President’s Commission on Rural Poverty.

At Notre Dame he directed the Mexican Border Studies Project, founded the Mexican American Graduate Studies program and, together with his wife Betty, reached out as friend and mentor to generations of Latino students. The Samoras also campaigned actively for labor and immigrant rights on campus, in the local community, and throughout the Midwest.

Samora’s numerous publications include La Raza: Forgotten Americans (1966), Los Mojados: The Wetback Story (1971), A History of the Mexican American People (1977), and Gunpowder Justice: A Reassessment of the Texas Rangers (1979), all published by the University of Notre Dame Press. He was presented with the White House Hispanic Heritage Award in 1985 and, alongside labor leader César Chávez, received the Aguila Azteca medal from the Mexican government in 1990.

Reviews

[Alma Garcia]

The book need some major updating to be useful to students of current Mexican-American and Latino history. Too little if mentioned about the tole of women. Some information is not accurate. Alsmot as if it was added to make bring the history to "current times".