A class apart documentary. A Class Apart (2009) 2022-11-03
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A Class Apart is a documentary film that explores the landmark case of Hernandez v. Texas, which challenged the discriminatory treatment of Mexican Americans in the United States justice system. The film tells the story of the Hernandez family and their fight for justice after their father, Pete Hernandez, was falsely accused of murder and sentenced to death.
The Hernandez case began in 1954, when Pete Hernandez was accused of murdering a white man in Edna, Texas. Despite having an alibi and no evidence linking him to the crime, Hernandez was found guilty by an all-white jury and sentenced to death. His case was appealed to the Supreme Court, where it became known as Hernandez v. Texas.
A Class Apart follows the journey of the Hernandez family and their legal team as they fight to overturn Pete Hernandez's conviction. The film delves into the history of discrimination against Mexican Americans in the justice system and the systemic biases that led to Hernandez's wrongful conviction. It also explores the broader social and political context of the time, including the civil rights movement and the fight for voting rights for Mexican Americans in Texas.
One of the most striking aspects of A Class Apart is the way it illustrates the deep-seated racism and prejudice that Mexican Americans faced in the 1950s and 1960s. The film highlights the ways in which Mexican Americans were routinely denied their basic civil rights, including the right to a fair trial. It also illustrates the ways in which the justice system was used as a tool of oppression, with Mexican Americans routinely being targeted for arrest and prosecution, often on flimsy or fabricated evidence.
Despite these challenges, the Hernandez family and their legal team fought tirelessly for justice, eventually winning a historic victory at the Supreme Court. In a unanimous decision, the Court ruled that Mexican Americans were entitled to equal protection under the law and that they could not be excluded from juries on the basis of their race. This decision had far-reaching implications for the civil rights of Mexican Americans and helped to pave the way for greater equality and justice in the United States.
Overall, A Class Apart is a powerful and poignant film that tells the story of one family's fight for justice and highlights the struggles and triumphs of the Mexican American civil rights movement. It is a must-see for anyone interested in civil rights, social justice, or the history of the United States.
A Class Apart Movie Analysis
Instead, the returning veterans, many of them decorated war heroes, came back to face the same injustices they had experienced all their lives. But it also says theirs was a risky legal strategy. An outstanding work of non-fiction TV. Alcoholism would be cruelly compounded by mental illness, taking GarcĂa in and out of institutions for the next decade. With the loss of land came the loss of status. Loaned by John Wildenthal Family 082-0416. And with that, Pedro left the cantina.
'A Class Apart' revisits historic civil rights case
Narrator: Fueled by indignation, GarcĂa offered the justices a brief irony-laced history lesson. Narrator: Herrera brought along a young attorney, James DeAnda, to handle the statistical research. Texas belongs in the pantheon of great civil rights cases. Many funeral parlors even refused to prepare Mexican American bodies for burial. So, over and over, throughout the early part of the 20th century, courts deemed Mexican Americans "white," says Garcia, who graduated from Lanier High School in San Antonio. Ironically, Hernandez was once again convicted once he was retried by a jury of his peers--but it was a jury of peers and established that Hispanics had exactly the same rights before the law. Texas to the Supreme Court, challenging Jim Crow-style discrimination.
"American Masters" Cary Grant: A Class Apart (TV Episode 2004)
The students are much older now, and they willingly want to watch the experiment that they were part of when they were elementary kids. So he stole sixteen extra minutes. Her children were just as worthy as the Anglo children. This is a moment when a people long regarded as inferior, organize and demand equal treatment and succeed in that demand. La Bauve Adela Longoria Cerra Chicago Tribune Detroit Free Press The American Newspaper Repository Collection Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Tino And Millie Duran, Publishers, La Prensa Delores Espinosa The Hearst Corporation Frank Lerner Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Library of Congress Los Angeles Public Library: Security Pacific Collection Shades Of L. Its founder and — and national president, Hector GarcĂa, has a radio program. She asked her third grade student if it would be interesting to see what would happen if they were judged by their eye color.
"American Experience" A Class Apart (TV Episode 2009)
Garcia, however he eventually became Chief Justice, which was a great accomplishment. They were called horrible names and were treated poorly compared to white folks. The students seemed amused, so Mrs. GarcĂa led a team that won a court order curtailing the segregation of Hispanic students in Texas schools. He was also the legal advisor for the League of United Latin American Citizens and the American G.
. But even more important, it belongs in the pantheon of great moments in American history. Oralia Espinosa: He lived maybe thirty minutes after we got to the hospital. His lawyers immediately appealed. This episode, narrated by Leonard James Olmos, is about a type of discrimination you don't hear a lot about on television.
A Class Apart: A Mexican American Civil Rights Story
She saw that she could do something to effect change for her children. A Mexican-American was accused of murder and was tried by an all-White jury. But those victories could only take Mexican Americans so far. Filmmakers say a witness noted that no other lawyer had been afforded extra time, including renowned NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, who argued Brown vs. Narrator: GarcĂa had been an outstanding student at the University of Texas, captain of the nationally-ranked debate team; he had excelled at law school as well. Olivas, Lisa Ramos FOR ITVS — EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Sally Jo Fifer FOR LPB — EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Patricia Boero FOR AMERICAN EXPERIENCE — EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Mark Samels NATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN SPONSOR Active Voice FISCAL SPONSORS Southwest Alternate Media Project Video Association of Dallas Independent Feature Project ON-CAMERA INTERVIEWS Gloria Villa Cadena, wife of Carlos Cadena, Norma CantĂş, professor, Ramiro Casso, M.
Dunford Coordinating Producer Susan Mottau Senior Editor Paul Taylor Series Producer Susan Bellows Senior Producer Sharon Grimberg For ITVS — Executive Producer Sally Jo Fifer For LPB — Executive Producer Patricia Boero Executive Producer Mark Samels A Co-Production Of Camino Bluff Productions, Inc. Sandoval, a former attorney who studied constitutional law, had never heard of the case before reading about it in the New York Times in 2004. The one-hour film dramatically interweaves the story of its central characters— activists and lawyers, returning veterans and ordinary citizens, murderer, and victim — within the broader story of a civil rights movement that is still very much alive today. Pedro Hernández, a field worker with a bad leg, was already inside. Texas to the Supreme Court, challenging Jim Crow-style discrimination. Victor RodrĂquez: They walked into the courthouse, and when they confronted the judge, the judge asked them if they needed an interpreter.
A Class Apart: A Mexican American Civil Rights Story
Narrator: The treatment of Private Felix Longoria, a war hero killed in the Philippines, became a flashpoint. Narrator: Carlos Cadena took the lead in drafting the Hernandez appeal. He had a deep resonant voice. Ignacio GarcĂa: Gus GarcĂa had a … a problem, ah with alcohol. No Mexican Americans had ever tried a case in the US Supreme Court.
Moreover, no Mexican Americans had ever tried a case in the US supreme courts. Narrator: After discussions with Latino civil rights activists, the Hernandez lawyers decided on a bold but risky legal strategy. Supreme Court, where Hernández's lawyers proved that his 14th Amendment rights were violated because he was denied a jury of his peers. The case that the activists and lawyers had focused on for so long was now out of their hands. Over two decades, DeAnda fought for Mexican American rights, winning important cases against segregation and discrimination in Texas schools, and co-founding the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Supreme Court announced its ruling in the case of Hernandez v. Narrator: It happened in the small town of Edna Texas, the distraught woman told lawyer Gus GarcĂa.
Supreme Court, where they won the right to have Mexican Americans serve on juries alongside whites -- a major civil rights victory for Latinos. Narrator: For Mexican Americans, the Longoria incident came at a crucial time. Michael Olivas: It was very clear that the social isolation was a perfectly symmetrical system, one that hermetically sealed Mexicans and blacks away from whites in all the daily aspects of life. Wanda GarcĂa: When we moved in the neighbors started getting upset. It was the first case ever argued by Mexican American litigators before the high court, and experts call it one of the most important of the Mexican American civil rights movement. Pedro Hernández would receive a new trial — and would be judged by a true jury of his peers. Her son, Pete Hernández had been charged with murder.
