I grew up on the border with a 95% Hispanic pop. My parents and grandparents migrated from Mexico to the U.S. in the 1900s. Yet, I never learned about Latino history in school. So, I present to you, fellow victims of erased history- The History of Latinos in America (a thread)

1931 Los Angeles: police officers raided a Mexican market, arrested + deported about 400 Mexican Americans regardless of citizenship or immigration status. Many of them were actually American citizens.

After the U.S. stole parts of Mexico and Anglo colonizers infested the areas, anti-Latino sentiment grew. Latinos were often barred entry to Anglo establishments and segregated into urban barrios in poor areas.

- Latinos were often excluded from “white” restaurants, movie theaters, schools, etc. There were “Mexican schools”. By the 1940s, as many as 80% of Latino children in some cities attended separate schools and were turned away from “white” schools, which were obviously much better

funded. (Hence the economic and educational disparities we see today).
In 1945, Latino parents fought back. The courts concluded that Latino students were “dirty and infected” putting white students at risk. They claimed that Mexicans were “inferior in personal hygiene, ability

and in their economic outlook”. They also claimed that since they couldn’t speak English, they shouldn’t attend an English speaking school (kind of like how some schools will immediately put a Latino child is ESL classes based on just their last name. I know many of students who

went through this. They spoke English perfectly.) Legal school segregation of Latinos in California ended in 1945 and in Texas in 1954 after Brown v. Board, but the economic and educational disparities it created persists.

Throughout history, Latinos have been treated as underclass by Anglo-Americans. They suffered extreme discrimination, with negative rhetoric spread by whites purporting them as “lazy, stupid, etc”. This is why the President using these words to describe Mexicans/immigrants is so

harmful. It proves that the country continues to be dominated by white supremacy and racism persists. Discrimination against Latinos often turned to extreme violence and civilian casualties. While there are only 547 reported cases of mob violence against Latinos, historians

estimate that the number is much higher. In 1851, the Anglos were mad cause they stole California and had to share the wealth yielded by the Cali mines so they accused Josefa Segovia of murdering a white man. After a fake trial, the whites took to the streets and lynched her.

Over 2,000 ppl gathered to yell racial slurs. Others were lynched as well on “suspicion of fraternizing with white women or insulting white people.” - In 1911, a mob of over 1,000 hung 14-year-old Antonio Gomez. They lynched his body and dragged him through the streets of

Thorndale, TX. - After the Great Depression, YTs grew angry and began accusing Mexicans of “stealing their jobs”. They became discouraged and forbidden to accept charitable aid.

The U.S. forcibly removed 2 million people of Mexican descent from the country, 60% of whom were American citizens. 1936: Colorado ordered all “Mexicans” (anyone who spoke Spanish or appeared to be of Latino descent) to leave the state. INS deported around 82k people around this

time. People with disabilities and illnesses were removed from hospitals and dumped at the border. Light skinned Latinos pretended to be Spaniards to avoid deportation. Some people never saw their families again.

About 1/3 of LA’s Mexican population and a 1/3 of Texas’s Mexican population was deported. Texas was originally a part of Mexico. That was their home far longer than it belonged to the U.S.. And they were forced out.

Anti-Latino prejudice persists to this day. Despite being the country’s largest minority, discrimination has not subdued. Issues with immigration persist alongside negative rhetoric surrounding our culture. This issue is enhanced by Trump saying things like Mexicans are “rapists”

“bring drugs” “bring crime”, which is weird considering the rape allegations on him.

Anyway, that’s just a little bit of history they never taught me. Instead I was celebrating Columbus in 2nd grade This isn’t just what they did to our ancestors, it’s what they did to some of our grandparents. Anyway, do your part to help dismantle white supremacy!