Sylvia Mendez

In the early 1900s, many Mexican people moved to California to get jobs. But many white people didn’t want them there. Restaurant owners even put up signs that said, “No dogs or Mexicans allowed.”

Sylvia’s father was born in Mexico, but Sylvia and her siblings were born in the U.S. In 1944, the family tried to enroll Sylvia in 17th Street Elementary. They were told, “No Mexicans allowed.”

Sylvia’s family and other Mexican American parents wanted their kids to have the same opportunities as white kids. The whites-only school offered a better education.

In 1945, the Mendez family and four other Mexican American families took the school district to court. The families won their case.

The court said that four California school districts had to end segregation. Over time, court decisions would force school districts in the rest of the country to do the same.

In 1947, Sylvia and other Mexican American kids were allowed to attend 17th Street Elementary. But one boy made Sylvia feel unwelcome.

“Mexicans don’t belong here,” he told her.

Sylvia didn’t want to return to school. But her mother reminded her of something important.

“She said, ‘We all deserve equality,’” Sylvia recalls.

Sylvia went back to school the next day. She eventually made many new friends.

Sylvia paved the way for other kids to end segregation in their schools. But years later, she realized that not many people knew her story. She has spent the past 20 years speaking out about it so others can see how harmful prejudice can be.

1. How was 17th Street Elementary School different from Hoover Elementary?

2. Summarize the section “A Legal Battle.”

3. What example from the article shows how prejudice can be harmful?