VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos

The Fight for Equal Schooling in Mendez v. Westminster

After Sylvia Mendez was denied school enrollment due to her darker skin, her family – and other Mexican families who had faced the same discrimination – brought a lawsuit against the Westminster School District of Orange County, California. Represented by civil rights attorney David Marcus, they won the case, which established a crucial precedent for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

The Fight for Equal Schooling in Mendez v. Westminster

3m 23s

  • Solidarity in a New Era: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Solidarity in a New Era

    S1 E3 - 54m 50s

    Host John Leguizamo explores the rise of the new empire, the United States. While Latinos were often relegated to the fringes of mainstream society, they made profound contributions to the fabric of the U.S. and beyond. Reflecting on his journey, John learns that Latinos were not just an asterisk in history, but that Latino history is the history of the United States.

  • Threads in the American Tapestry: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Threads in the American Tapestry

    S1 E2 - 54m 27s

    Explore how Latino DNA has been woven into the identity of the United States since before her inception, and has been pivotal all along the way. Despite facing severe discrimination and violence, Latinos were present and contributed in pivotal ways to the fabric of this nation. Highlighting key figures and events, host John Leguizamo shows how Latinos helped build the United States we know today.

  • Echoes of Empires: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Echoes of Empires

    S1 E1 - 54m 25s

    Join creator and host John Leguizamo on a quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions. Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history, spanning thousands of years, from the Ancient Empires to the present, and shining a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos.

WETA Passport

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.