By Alyssa Rios
Loving one’s community often inspires action to improve it. Activist Maria Jimenez and Texas Senator Carol Alvarado both grew up in the East End and graduated from Milby High School roughly a decade apart. They recognized the social, economic, and environmental disparities in their neighborhood, especially in communities of color where systemic racism remained prevalent. Inspired by leftist political action, Jimenez became a renowned community organizer, guiding her community against anti-immigrant policies during the 1990s and taking these concerns to Washington, D.C. State Senator Alvarado advocated for the improvement of community infrastructure, the environment, and women’s issues through electoral politics. Both methods have significantly improved the East End community and beyond.
MARIA JIMENEZ
At age sixteen, Maria Jimenez was exposed to Mexican American political mobilization during the 1966 Starr County Melon Strike. Working in the Immaculate Heart of Mary’s Catholic Youth Organization, she observed fellow members donating money and food to strikers in the Rio Grande Valley. Although she could not take part in the march, her experiences as a Mexican woman growing up during segregation informed her activism. Born in 1950 in Coahuila, Mexico, Jimenez and her family moved to the predominantly Anglo Magnolia Park neighborhood for her father’s work as a machinist. Most industrial workers from Mexico immigrated to Chicago, but Jimenez’s father disliked its cold climate and its distance from Mexico, so he chose Houston instead. Thus, Maria’s family moved into a little home on Avenue I, close to Franklin Elementary School.
Raised in a time when anti-Mexican sentiments reflected public opinion and institutional policy, Maria experienced this as a core part of her upbringing. Houston’s public facilities, including swimming pools and parks, barred Mexicans, defined legally as White, from enjoying spaces open to non-Hispanic White residents. Hidalgo Park was the designated “Mexican park” and in noticeably worse condition compared to the “Anglo” Mason Park, which Mexicans could only use once a week to swim for a few hours before the pool was cleaned.
Franklin Elementary prohibited students from speaking Spanish, even if they needed to use the restroom. Fortunately, during first grade Maria received help secretly from her Spanish-speaking teacher who whispered assignment instructions to avoid getting caught. Perhaps surprisingly, other Latino students also reflected anti-Mexican attitudes and policies. Maria observed, “Everybody knew there was a great deal of difference in terms of how society ridiculed and treated you, and we were careful in terms of our relationships.”
Maria’s family encouraged her to learn as much as she could and pursue higher education. Prioritizing her education was a progressive idea for many Latino families of her generation. Her father wanted her to maintain financial independence in case of divorce, and her mother made it clear that women had opportunities beyond the home. At Milby High School, she proved herself as a powerhouse debater and received financial support from her father to attend competitions. An officer of Milby’s National Forensic League debate team, Jimenez and her Anglo partner won several contests but lost many others due to the judges’ prejudices against Mexicans, especially Mexican women. “How can we let that Mexican girl win?” wrote one judge in her comments.
These experiences drew Maria toward Chicana feminism and activism, but the different ways her parents were raised also radicalized Maria. Her mother lived securely, while her father’s side suffered during the Great Depression when her grandfather was repatriated to Mexico. This and her father’s union activism inspired Maria to pursue political science by the time she reached thirteen.
To read the full article that continues Maria’s story and talks about Carol Alvarado, pictured below, click on Buy Magazines above to subscribe or order a print copy.
Watch this video of Senator Carol Alvarado talking about letting Texans vote for gambling in the state, and how many support it.
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