Finally, a biography on one of the historic icons of the Mexican American civil Rights movement, especially one from Texas. José Tomás Canales of Brownsville, Texas accomplished many important goals in his near-century life.
Born into a family of landowners and wealth, José was the first Mexican American to graduate from the University of Michigan Law Department in 1898; passed the Texas Bar exam the following year and began his practice of law. South Texas Political Boss James Wells picked him to become the first Mexican American State Representative in the state.
After having a falling out with Boss Wells, he organized his own successful campaign to return to Austin from a newly created district.
During all these years the violence against persons of Mexican origin was rampant and oftentimes it was at the hands of law enforcement officers, namely the Texas Rangers.
In the 1919 legislative session, Representative Canales brought charges against the Texas Rangers and was able to hold hearings on those charges for over two weeks. He faced daily death threats and verbal humiliations, but he pressed on. At the end, he failed to reform the Rangers and left Austin.
Back home, he continued to become the “first” in many other arenas such as County School Superintendent and City Attorney. He joined others to found the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and was its fourth national president. He was most generous with his philanthropy and was among those supporting Ike for President. He was a closet Republican. As a lawyer, he took on many unpopular cases and often did not charge a fee.
A note from A. Govea
( The author Jose Angel Gutierrez is one of the most recognized leaders of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement and has authored over 30 books including two books I possess A Chicano Manual on How to Handle Gringos and The Making of a Chicano Militant. I have just ordered his latest book and encourage others that are interested in Raza history to do the same.)
More about the book
This middle reader book for young people and others alike details his remarkable journey as an incessant champion of justice and equality for all. This short biography is a reminder that one individual can make a significant difference in the world. He is a role model for younger generations. All three versions of this biography, Kindle, paperback, and hardback are available at Amazon at very reasonable prices. ISBN-13: 979-8999797644. You may use link below to order your copy https://www.amazon.com/Jos%C3%A9-Tom%C3%A1s-Canales-Became-Representative/dp/B0FFT6CH29
