Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2021

Publication Title

Journal of Latino/Latin American Studies

Volume

11

Issue

1

First Page

105

Last Page

107

Abstract

Like countless seventh graders in Texas before me, and countless since, I took the mandatory Texas history course without paying much attention. This wasn’t just because that’s what all seventh graders do, much to the chagrin of their teachers. At least some of my disinterest stemmed from the fact that my part of the state—the lower Rio Grande Valley—seemed to have no role in Texas history, apart from being where the U.S.-Mexico War started in 1846 at Palo Alto, and where the U.S. Civil War ended in 1865 at Palmito Ranch. Basically, what I learned was that Texas history had occurred elsewhere, made in epic fashion by Anglo-Texans. In this narrative, the Mexican-descent people of the Valley, if not the whole state, had essentially sat out the making of modern Texas while Anglos got busy. And if it wasn’t in the textbook, it hadn’t occurred or didn’t matter.

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