I recently published my first Latino book under my very own publishing company. This story was brought to my attention two years ago by a classmate. When I learned about the story, I immediately fell in love. This story brought hope to children and to the world that your voice truly matters. The children were students at Bell Gardens Elementary School. An elementary school that is 75% Latinos. They learned about the Great Depression during the 1930s and realized that there was no mention of Mexicans or Mexican Americans. The idea that there was no mention of people like themselves sparked to do more research. Through their research, they created plays, PowerPoint presentations, poems, and book reports. One day, Assemblymember Cristina Garcia came to visit the school and the students performed for her. She loved everything about the performance that she encouraged them to enter into the contest, "There Ought to be a Law." Thrilled by the idea, the students entered and won.
Assemblymember Cristina Garcia introduced a bill to make schools teach the Mexican Repatriation during the Great Depression. The bill was called AB 146. The students with their teacher drove 6 hours to Sacramento, California to testify about the importance of why the Mexican Repatriation should be taught in schools. Impressed by the students' testimonies, the bill passed. AB 146 became a law.
It is amazing to learn that children ages 9 to 11 years old were able to influence policy. They saw a problem and they turned it into a solution. Because of the students from Bell Gardens Elementary School, schools in California are now encouraged to teach about the Mexican Repatriation. Students now can learn about Mexican Repatriation without having to dig for the information because it will be available to them. They will learn the truth of what happened to the Mexican and Mexican Americans during the Great Depression.
California's second largest population are the Latinos. Students should be able to learn about people like themselves. Especially, since California was once part of Mexico. The Mexican Repatriation was an important part of history in the United States and thanks to these children the whole world will know about it. Thank you Assemblymember Cristina Garcia and Ms. Leslie Hiatt from Bell Gardens Elementary School for allowing me to write this book and share this story.
Thank you to the students, for your courage to speak out.
Thank you to the students, for your courage to speak out.
Get your copy today of Bringing Back History: The Untold Story of the Mexican Repatriation. Support the children who change history. This book can encourage other children to find their voice and make a difference. 15% of the proceeds will go towards the Ayudando a la Juventud Scholarship Foundation.
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