Mendez Vs Westminster School Case Study

Furthermore, they could not obtain any higher education than high school, because they were not granted any scholarships or support. Since most of the Mexican American students come from a really low class,. without the financial aid it was impossible for them to attend college. In shorter words, segregation meant inferior education. Parents and mainly students wanted an educational reform.

There are many circumstances, lawsuits to be accurate, that helped disassemble the segregation within the educational system. One of the most important lawsuit was in 1946, the case Mendez vs. Westminster School. This victory established that segregation of Mexican American students was against the law (Montoya 167). This case is important because it was the first case ever to establish a landmark court case that desegregated California schools. Any kid could attend any public school they

If any institute turned them back it would be considered as discrimination. Therefore, the school is basically violating their Constitutional rights. (Blakemore, 2017). It is important to note that, this case is so similar to Brown V. Board, that stated that it was unconstitutional to have an segregated educational system, though it happened a decade earlier. After this case, Mendez v. Westminster, many similar cases started to appear in courts. Also, there was a case in 1954 that the Supreme Court acknowledge that Latino students were definitely being discriminated and also not treated equally. This case, Hernandez v. The State of Texas, was also important because it was briefed and argued by a Mexican American attorneys (PBS). But also, this case established that the 14 amendment was not only for white and black citizens, but also all racial groups, not just Mexicans. (Dauphine). Therefore, like Montoya said, “the Chicana/o communities played a central role in dismantling the legal architecture that