Exploring Civil Rights in Dallas at the Latino Cultural Center

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MotorcyclesThough the term “Civil Rights” usually brings up memories of the 1960s, many of the struggles and issues surrounding the movement are startlingly contemporary. This is especially true in Texas’ Mexican-American communities. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn key portions of the Voting Rights Act, the increasing number of Mexican-Americans in Texas, and intense battles over issues like immigration reform make the current political moment as vital a time as any for a discussion on Mexican-American civil rights.

One upcoming contribution to that conversation is Justica: The Struggle for Mexican-American Civil Rights in Dallas, Texas 1920-2012, a multimedia exhibition put on by Dallas’ Latino Cultural Center and the Dallas Mexican-American Historical League. Tracing the often under-reported stories of workers, activists, political leaders and other  civil rights figures in Dallas through the past century, the exhibit touches on Mexican- Americans’ struggle for equality during the Great Depression, through the turbulent 1960s, up to current issues, visiting  key events and important people along the way. It features video interviews and oral histories from Dallas civil rights leaders, an interactive timeline, and panel discussions about issues related to the continuing struggle for Mexican-American civil rights.

The exhibit kicks off this Friday with an opening reception at 6 PM at the Latino Cultural Center in Dallas. It runs until August 31, and will include other special events TBA.