To Mr. Alonso S. Perales, From Maria Antonia Chavez Saldana, March 6, 1940

LETTERS

DISCRIMINATION against Mexican Americans

HISPANIC Americans--education

PERALES, Alonso S., 1898-1960

CANARY Islanders--America

ANCESTORS

Letter to Alonso S. Perales from Maria Antonia Chavez Saldana thanking him for a copy of his book “En Defensa de mi Raza “[In Defense of my People]. In her letter she discusses the racism that Mexican Americans face and how the younger generation are becoming bitter, because Mexican boys are not given a “square deal”. She also mentions her family’s long lineage of settling in San Antonio, starting from 1715. She also talks highly about her son’s and their endeavors.

Saldana, Maria Antonia Chavez

1940-03-06

Content compilation of The Latino/Hispanic American Experience Leaders, Writers and Thinkers copyright 2012 by Arte Publico Historical Collections. All rights reserved.

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SAN Antonio (Tex.)

[Handwritten - Letter]

San Antonio, Texas
March 6, 1940

Mr. Alonso S. Perales
614 Gunter Building
San Antonio, Texas
Dear Mr. Perales:

I wish to thank you most sincerely for your thoughtfulness and kindness in giving me a copy of your book "En Defensa de mi Raza". I really enjoyed reading it especially that page on which is printed your letter to Mr. Gonzales. Allow me to congratulate you. I also have a bone to pick with that gentleman and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see him be put in his right place.

It really is too bad we dont have more Alonso Perales' to defend the Mexican people. Unfortunately, when some one tries to do some-thing, the others who are in a position to help dont do so. The first thing they say is "Why should I make enemies among the white people [Underlined] (pardon the words) when they treat me fine." There you have the whole thing in a nut shell. They'll sell their birth-right for a mess of pottage. The fools! They have no pride, no dignity, no self respect.

#2

I've made plenty of enemies but it is worth it. It makes my blood boil to hear germans, Italians, Anglo-Americans etc. say, "These Mexicans should be sent back to Mexico". Do I keep quiet? Certainly not. I tell them that if it hadnt been for the ancestors of some of these so - called Mexicans they wouldnt be here taking it easy.

You see Mr. Perles, I have a right to answer them in that rude way because my people first came here to San Antonio in 1715, sixteen years before the Canary Islanders came. One of my ancestors Don Pedro Flores de Abrego was born here in 1719. Another ancestor Don Domingo Ramon came here in 1716. I'm very proud of them. And of course I'm proud of some of my other ancestors who came from the Canary Islands in 1731. I have ancestors in one generation or other who descend from nine of the original 13 Canary Islanders (families), one being Don Juan Leal Goras who was the leader of them all. That is why my grandfather Don Pedro Chaves was one of the heirs to that property where the court-house stands. Hi mother, grandmother and great grandmother were born in the same house on the land granted to their ancestor Don Juan Leal [Unintelligable - Goras]. The property was sold to Mr. Dwyer and his wife [Unintelligable Mariana] Leal,

#3

and they in turn sold it to the county later on.

Wouldn't all these settlers turn in their graves to see how their descendants are humiliated day by day. No jobs worth while for people of Mexican descent while others who came yesterday and never heard of the Alamo until they came here get the best positions.

I'm worried about the younger generation, they are getting bitter because they say they are neither Mexican or American and that it is useless to go to college and spend 4 years or more and get a position driving a truck or clerking in some small store after they finish college.

My son who graduated last May from Sidney Lanier was an honor graduate, was valedictorian of the class and received seven scholarships to the largest college in Texas but he wouldnt go because he is seeing how things are right now. He wanted to be an architect but was told by his teacher who cared very much for him, it would be useless to go six years to college and then not get a position. So he is working as window trimmer and salesman for Paul Maureaux Co. and goes to night school at Tech. He wants to be somebody but how can he when they dont give a square deal to the Mexican boys.

#4

Some day I'm going to send him over to you but its' so hard to say when. He works from 7:30 a.m til 6:30 p.m and on Saturdays 7:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m He knows how to talk, he's not like the one you met who would rather [Illegible - pray] than talk. By the way, Mr. Perales, you made a conquest and I mean a conquest. My son thought you were the grandest sort of a man he had ever met. He's been bragging about you to every one he knows, and that means something. He thinks of nothing but sports (he is a basketball star) and he said, "I bet if I talked to Mr. Perales about basketball he'd know what I was talking about". He is only 17 years old and graduated in January but is [Illegible - posting] until May when he gets his diploma. My oldest son Jesse was 18 when he graduated but he received so many honors it would take a page to list them.

My letter has turned out to be a book it seems and I hope I haven't bored you but I had to get my feelings off my chest and you were the proper person for that.

So thanking you again for your kindness
I remain

Yours sincerely
Maria Antonia Chavez Saldaña