The Longoria Affair is a tragic reminder of the racism and discrimination many minorities have endured across the plains of this nation. Felix Longoria a Mexican-American native of Texas volunteered to serve his country and to go to foreign soil to execute his orders. During World War II he left his family, wife and daughter to defend the will of a political and social climate that was not warm to him nor other minorities. While executing his duties he was killed. His remains were sent to his hometown where the town mortician, Mr. Kennedy refused to allow his family to use the chapel, because he was a minority. It was during that time the 1940s that segregation, discrimination, and racism was the norm of the time. Mr. Kennedy who was new to Three Lakes, Texas did not want to break the norm of allowing Hispanic Americans to use the chapel to grieve their love ones. After being told no, his spouse sought out the help of Dr. Garcia who was a Hispanic American medical doctor who also had served in the army who thought he wasn’t intelligent enough to be a medical doctor. He to demonstrated his tenacity in the face of adversity and became a medical doctor. Dr. Garcia of the America GI Forum was also an advocate of rights for the Hispanic American population. After getting knowledge of this atrocity Dr. Garcia notified media and political proponents. He would notify Sen. Lyndon Johnson, to which he took this injustice personally and ultimately saw to it that this great American Hero was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Although, he did the right thing he stayed away from the spotlight knowing that it could impact his political aspirations. This documentary brought to light another track record of disproportion honor to another person who contributed much, but leveraged little, if it wasn’t for someone like Dr. Garcia who would not sit idly by and allow this injustice to continue, who knows where we would be. This story is a reminder of an attitude of discrimination accepted which should be told and remembered…Lest we repeat it.
Your review reminds me that extreme action towards racial injustice seems to be a repeated theme throughout history. The fact that Dr. Garcia had to take the issue up with the Sen. Lyndon Johnson, tells me that burying Longoria without legislative support would have been met with a huge public resistance. It is truly a sad circumstance. Thank you for the review, I look forward to finding this documentary and watching.
Great blog review. I agree with Lupita and want to add, in comparison to the plight of African-Americans and Native Americans, it seems much too little is widely known about the long oppression of Mexican-Americans in the South-West. Hopefully many more films with similar themes will be made. There’s still a long way to go. I like watching documentaries and I will definitely add this one to my list.
Good job!
The documentary you blogged about was so sad and tragic. To fight and die for your Country and then be denied proper burial services because of your race is unthinkable and ignorant. But like you wrote, “It was during that time the 1940s that segregation, discrimination, and racism was the norm of the time.” I agree with Lupita’s statement, “That extreme action towards racial injustice seems to be a repeated theme throughout history.” I was happy to learn that Mr. Longoria ultimately was given a proper burial (as he deserved) and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. This is just another example of the discrimination and racism Latinos have faced for many years.