A Giant Awakening, 1964
“…what we were trying to do was to let the word spread like when you drop a rock into still water and let the little waves begin to spread out, and it was just exactly what happened. Although we were just a little rock, we were making waves.” – Interview with Alfonso Vazquez, September 26, 1978
The power of the Latino vote today has its roots in Mexican American engagement of the pre-World War II era. In 1935 the Latin American Club of Houston held voter drives aiming to reach 10,000 qualified Hispanic voters. Over the next 25 years, despite a $1.50 poll tax designed to prevent minority voter participation, Houston organizations such as the League of United Latin American Citizens Council 60 (LULAC), the Civic Action Committee (CAC) and the Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations (PASSO) sought to empower Latino Houstonians to use their voice and their vote.
By the 1960 presidential election Latino voters would come out in unprecedented numbers to influence politics on the national stage electing John F. Kennedy to the United States Presidency. His visit to Houston three years later would officially acknowledge Latinos as an important voting bloc.
JOHN J. HERRERA SPEECH, FEB. 13, 1971
LATIN AMERICANS DRIVE FOR 10K QUALIFIED VOTERS
LATIN AMERICANS TO SEE VOTE DEVICE
LATIN AMERICAN CLUB STARTS CAMPAIGN FOR POLL TAX PAYMENTS
LATIN SONS ENDORSE PICKETT
BUY YOUR POLL TAX
HARRIS COUNTY POLL TAX RECEIPT FOR JOHN J. HERRERA
HENRY B. GONZALEZ CAMPAIGN RALLY
CIVIC ACTION COMMITTEE BULLETIN, SEPTEMBER 1960
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY WITH BANNER
PASO HEADQUARTERS, CIRCA 1960s
ROY ELIZONDO AND MOSES LEROY
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY 1963, LULAC RECEPTION
On November 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy attended a reception in Houston, Texas sponsored by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). That night is widely recognized as the first time a U.S. president acknowledged Latinos as a significant voting bloc.
POLITICAL ASSOCIATION OF SPANISH SPEAKING ORGANIZATIONS PASO
Inspired by the Viva Kennedy Clubs Latino leaders from organizations across the Southwest met to discuss the effort to effect political unity within the Latino community. The Political Association of Spanish Speaking Organizations (PASO) was formed as a result of these discussions and in 1961 the Civic Action Committee evolved to form the Houston chapter of PASO.
VIVA KENNEDY AND VIVA JOHNSON CLUBS
Viva Kennedy (and Viva Johnson) clubs were originally partisan groups of Mexican Americans who supported the election of John F. Kennedy to the presidency. The Viva Kennedy clubs were the first statewide partisan organization of Mexican Americans in Texas.
CIVIC ACTION COMMITTEEE CAC
CAC evolved from the support of several Houston Hispanic leaders for the candidacy of Henry B. Gonzalez for governor of Texas. Between 1958 and 1959 the CAC launched a systematic poll tax drive. This grassroots effort included speaking at churches, local night clubs, theater lobbies and food markets.
HENRY B. GONZALEZ
Henry B. Gonzalez (1916-2000) fought segregation battles in the Texas legislature throughout the 1950s. By the time of his visit to Houston in 1958 he inspired Houston Mexican Americans to support his campaign for governor. While unsuccessful, he would later become the first Mexican American from Texas elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
PAY YOUR POLL TAX DRIVES
From 1902 to 1964, Texas law required payment of a poll tax in order to register to vote. This tax was effective at keeping minority groups from voting. In response, Latino organizations in Houston and across the country organized “pay your poll tax drives” to register Latino voters.
JOHN J. HERRERA, PRESIDENT LULAC - PAPERS
John J. Herrera (1910-1986), past President of League of United Latin American Citizens, practiced law in Houston from 1943 to 1986 and was a leading civil rights advocate for Mexican Americans in Texas.
JOHN J. HERRERA, PRESIDENT LULAC - PHOTOGRAPHS
Created and published by Blanca Hernandez, Viva! contained articles focused on education, community affairs, entertainment, electoral politics, immigration, sports, and businesses.