Oral history interview with George Martʹinez, 1997 [videorecording].

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Oral history interview with George Martʹinez, 1997 [videorecording].

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50431367

Mr. Martʹinez discusses his family history and genealogy. He describes his memories of race discrimination practices by white Catholic teachers, coaches, and military personnel. Mr. Martínez relates the reasons he decided to attend law school, and he talks about his political activism when a law student. He gives details about his involvement with the Economy Furniture Strike, and the Vietnam War protest. Mr. Martínez elaborates upon his duties and activities as a municipal court judge and as a state District Judge. He tells about his role with lawsuits involving single member districts, Dallas Schools' desegregation, and Tarrant County re-districting. Mr. Martínez also describes his duties and accomplishments as a Texas state circuit judge for child custody and child support issues. He gives details about the management and financing of his election campaigns. Mr. Martínez summarizes the evolution of the Mexican American Democrats (MAD) and talks about his involvement. He elaborates upon the political problems within the MAD membership and provides insight into how those conflicts led to the breakup of MAD and the formation of the Tejano Democrats organization. Mr. Martínez also discusses the problems of the Raza Unida Party that he saw as inherent from its inception. He concludes the interview by stating his opinion that the most important issue for the Mexican American community is the need to continue fighting for the elimination of race discrimination practices in economic opportunity, education, and employment.

2 videocassettes (VHS) (2 hr., 50 min.) : col. ; 1/2 in.Transcript : 85 p. ; 28 cm.

eng,

spa,

University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7625545

University of Texas at Arlington, Central Library

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

University of Texas at Arlington. Center for Mexican American Studies

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Gutiérrez, José Angel,

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José Angel Gutierrez was born Oct. 25, 1944, in Crystal City, Texas. An activist, educator, organizer, and lawyer, Gutierrez co-founded the La Raza Unida Party and played many leadership roles in the early Chicano civil rights movement. He served as President of the Crystal City Independent School District Board in the early 1970s and as a County Judge for Zavala County, Tex. (1975-1980). In the 1980s, Gutierrez pursued a teaching career and moved to Oregon where he taught at Colegio Cesar Chav...

Tejano Democrats.

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Martínez family.

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Martʹinez, George,

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Born September 11, 1944. Mr. Martʹinez was the first Mexican American state district judge in Texas. He was appointed to the 254th District Court by former Governor Dolph Briscoe in 1977. He earned his B.A. degree in history from the University of Texas in 1966 and his law degree from the University of Texas in 1970. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington in the area of business law. From the description of Oral history interview with Geor...

Raza Unida Party (Tex.)

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The Raza Unida Party (RUP) was first established as a third political party in Crystal City, Texas, in January, 1970. As an alternative to the two-party system in Texas, Raza Unida sought social, economic, and political self-determination for Chicanos, other minorities, and the disenfranchised through local and, later, state politics. At its start, the party organized around county, local, and school district elections in south Texas; winning city council elections in Cotulla, Carri...

Mexican American Democrats of Texas

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w613112v (corporateBody)

A group of Democrats, formed in 1975, dedicated to increasing the influence of Mexican Americans in the Democratic Party at the state and national levels. Eugene and Sylvia Rodriguez were charter members of the group and both served on the Democratic National Committee in the 1980s. From the description of Mexican American Democrats of Texas collection, 1962-1987. (University of Texas at San Antonio). WorldCat record id: 40792718 Eugene (Gene) and Sylvia Rodrigu...