DVD
A class apart : a Mexican American civil rights story
Edition
Widescreen version.
Languages
English or Spanish dialogue, Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned.
Performers
Narrated by Edward James Olmos.
Publication Information
[Alexandria, Va.] : PBS Home Video, c2009.
Physical Description
1 videodisc (ca. 60 min.) : sd., col. and b&w ; 4 3/4 in.
Audience
Not rated.
Added Uniform Title
Summary
In the small town of Edna, Texas, in 1951, field hand Pete Hernández killed a tenant farmer after exchanging words in a cantina. From this murder emerged a landmark civil rights case that would change the lives and legal standing of tens of millions of Americans. Tells the story of an underdog band of Mexican American lawyers who took their case all the way to the Supreme Court, where they challenged Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican Americans. Lawyers forged a daring legal strategy, arguing that Mexican Americans were "a class apart" from a legal system that recognized only blacks and whites.
Notes
Documentary.
Originally broadcast as part of the American experience television series.
Special features: "Making of" featurette with filmmaker, interviews, behind the scenes footage, and photos; a slideshow of photographer Russell Lee's iconic images of Mexican American life in the 1940's; bonus scenes; materials for educators.
Subjects
- Trials (Murder) > Texas.
- Mexican Americans > Civil rights > Texas > History > 20th century.
- Mexican Americans > Civil rights > United States > History > 20th century.
- Chicano movement.
- Edna (Tex.) > Race relations > 20th century.
- United States > Race relations > History > 20th century
- Hernández, Pete > Trials, litigation, etc.