브라운'을 기대하며: 멘데스 대 웨스트민스터(Mendez v. Westminster) 소송과 멕시코계 미국인의 학교분리에 대한 도전

Abstract

This study is about the struggle of Mexican Americans against the forced segregation of Mexican American children in public schools, especially focusing on Mendez v. Westminster School District, a 1946 federal court case. This case, as the culmination of the long history of Mexican Americans'' fight for school desegregation ruled the segregation of Mexican American children into separate schools violated the California State law and the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Constitutional amendment. In fact, this case ruled "separate but equal" school for Mexican American children unconstitutional and paved the way for Brown. Thus, this study, discussing the Mendez case as a part of the long history of school desegregation cases in the U.S. provides an opportunity to acknowledge the fact that Mexican Americans have been important participants in the struggle for civil rights in the U.S.