These stories can teach you about Corpus Christi's deep connection to Hispanic heritage

Corpus Christi's Hispanic roots travel deep into history and continue through the present. From the naming of Corpus Christi Bay by Spaniard Alonso Álvarez de Pineda in 1519, to the area being part of Mexico until the Mexican-American War in the 1848, to the city being the cradle of Hispanic civil rights organizations LULAC and the American GI Forum, the area has a rich and intricate connection to Hispanic heritage and history.

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 in communities around the U.S., and Corpus Christi is no exception. The practice began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 through President Lyndon Baines Johnson, then in 1988 President Ronald Reagan expanded the honor into a 30-day period and passed it into law. The dates were chosen because Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrate their independence days on Sept. 15, while Mexico and Chile's independence days are Sept. 16. 

Del Mar College is offering a number of virtual presentations on YouTube on Hispanic culture during Hispanic History Month. See “Food and Culture: Vignettes from South Texas Family Life,” which explores food as an important window into South Texas family life, focusing on ‘living recipes’ shared by anthropology students at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and oral history remembrances of farm workers. In “¡Viva Corpus Christi!” author and Corpus Christi native Diana López examines how the city has shaped her identity as a Mexican American and how it has inspired her stories. And "Poetry from Corpus Christi," three Hispanic poets—Juan Manuel Perez, Alex Salinas and Zoe Ramos—share their distinct voices demonstrating how diverse the culture and poetry can be.  

Below, view articles from the Caller-Times recent archives that detail prominent Hispanic leaders and figures in the community along with celebrating history, education, literature, art and music. 

Hispanic heritage education

A dedicated educator and folklorist traveling along the Texas-Mexico border gathering tales of border life was an uncommon sight in the 1920s. The fact the folklorist was a 20-something Tejana working on her master's degree thesis was even more astonishing. But Jovita González Mireles did it anyway.

When Mary Helen Bonilla Berlanga was in school, she struggled to find representation of herself in history textbooks issued by the state. The only Hispanic she saw mentioned was Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the villain of the Battle of the Alamo. For 30 years, Berlanga fought to change that legacy of minority exclusion in textbooks as a member of the Texas State Board of Education.

A professor at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for 30 years, Leo Carrillo worked hard to advance the rights of Mexican-American people through community involvement and Latino arts celebrations.

Corpus Christi leaders, businesses to celebrate this Hispanic Heritage Month

Dora Cervera Mirabal had energy to burn, and when she put her mind to something, it got done. That drive sustained one of Corpus Christi's earliest Spanish-language newspapers for more than 40 years.

When the Texas Legislature created Nueces County Court-at-Law No. 4 in 1984, Hilda Tagle approached county commissioners to express her interest in the judgeship. A commissioner told her the job was too stressful for a woman. Now, Tagle has been a judge for more than three decades.

Ismael C. Salazar learned the importance of education early, the hard way. He had to drop out of school in fourth grade. And while he never went back, he made sure all nine of his children graduated from high school and had the opportunity to attend college.

Corpus Christi physician Dr. Clotilde Perez Garcia often arrived late or left early when invited to a function, even if she was the honoree. She had people to see and babies to deliver.

The opening of a small tortilleria on the corner of 14th and Marguerite streets in Corpus Christi in 1945 may not seem like much. But to Dora Alvarez Ruiz, it was the fulfillment of a dream.

Who remembers the reassuring presence of Lilly Flores Vela as a KIII-TV3 anchor in the 1980s and ‘90s?

Corpus Christi's Hispanic history and civil rights

On Feb. 17, 1929, about 200 people packed into Obreros Hall at Lipan and Carrizo streets in Corpus Christi. There, delegates of three organizations from around South Texas successfully united the groups into the League of United Latin American Citizens, with the purpose of advocating for Mexican-American citizens and Ben Garza as their leader. 

Upon earning his medical degree and serving his country with distinction in World War II, Dr. Hector P. Garcia opened a medical practice in Corpus Christi. It was there that Dr. Garcia saw firsthand the difficulties faced by veterans and migrant farm workers. Inspired by his experiences, Dr. Garcia founded the American GI Forum which fought for many causes, including medical benefits, civil rights, and voting rights.

The 1970s were a “dynamic” time for Latinos in South Texas. That's why Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez, a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, spearheaded the Voces Oral History Project to preserve the stories of Latino military veterans, activists and educators. 

When a historical marker is dedicated in Texas, there is usually a sense of pride among survivors or relatives of those associated with the history-making site. That was not the case for this marker near San Benito in the Rio Grande Valley. The plaque is titled “La Matanza (The Massacre).” The ceremony was somber, angry and cathartic.

South Texas's legacy in the civil rights movement reflects a deep commitment to equality for all and for the right of all to seek the American dream. But often the struggle of the Mexican American’s quest for civil rights is left out of the history pages. Learn about several of the leaders here.

Dr. Hector P. Garcia donated his collection of papers and memorabilia to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 1990. Now that collection is digitized and accessible for generations of research.

Here in South Texas, there were rough patches of discrimination, insensitivity and downright meanness as Tejanos attempted to secure their piece of the American Dream and survive in this United States. It is incumbent upon us to document and honor that struggle. That’s why the Tejano Civil Rights Museum and Resource Center exists today.

Tejano Plácido Benavides was a most unlikely hero during Texas’ quest for independence from Mexico in 1836. Benavides so hated the Mexican federal government and Gen. Santa Anna that he stepped into the chapters of Texas history and became known as the “Paul Revere of Texas.” 

If you've ever wondered why Texas always goes big to celebrate Diez y Seis de Septiembre each year, there's a reason why.

How Hispanic Texans shape politics

Texas state representative Irma Rangel rejected the title of politician. She saw herself as a public servant. 

Ahead of the 2020 election, pundits and advocates made the same prediction that they have for years: If Latino voter turnout grows, it could potentially decide major elections.

Harnessing the power of Latino voters could reshape politics in Texas.

In 2002, Barbara Canales made her first foray into politics — an unsuccessful challenge against Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa for a Texas state senate seat. Now she's the first woman to be Nueces County judge.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston says Hispanic turnout at the ballot box is growing. "In recent elections we've seen Latino voters being targeted, and that has led to mobilization," he said. "People like being asked."

Art to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Chicana artistSanta Contreras Barraza fills galleries with images she didn’t see growing up. Through her long career as an artist and art professor, she seeks to blend her two cultures into a new experience.

Don’t know who Antonio E. Garcia is? You should. Read on to learn about and appreciate this gifted artist who made South Texas his home.

Not too long ago and in a galaxy not too far away, a group of nine young Corpus Christi artists and entrepreneurs came together and combined forces. Together they call themselves the Tejano Justice League.

Artist Mayra Zamora credits her strong will and passion to being raised in a small town.

Corpus Christi artists Sandra Gonzalez and Monica Marie Garcia created a colorful, woman-inspired mural at the YWCA.

Elena Flores wanted to create things — clothes, bags, purses, and other accessories — that embraced her Mexican-American culture.

Megan Martinez has made a name for herself as a makeup artist and handcrafted a makeup line that is now sold online around the globe. 

Hispanic Heritage Month: Music & entertainment in Corpus Corpus Christi

When Linda Escobar was a little girl, she begged her father, popular Tejano and conjunto musician Eligio Roque Escobar, to let her perform at one of his concerts.By 8 years old, she had a gold record.

Domingo Peña was an entertainer. There is no other way to describe the charismatic Spanish-language radio host who made a transition into community television and mingled with music stars and politicians alike during his lifetime.

Freddie Records, started by musician Freddie Martinez Sr. in his garage in 1969, popularized the grupo and conjunto sounds and was a pillar of Tejano music and responsible for promoting many of the new groups in the 1970s and '80s.

For years, Horacio 'El Dusty' Oliveira has been writing and producing music out of his studio in the heart of Corpus Christi. He's earning Grammy Award nominations, headlining performances across the U.S. and Mexico and producing music for internationally recognized artists.

In Corpus Christi, a menudo bowl isn’t just a helping of tasty soup. For about 15 years, the annual Menudo Bowl was a day of family football fun all in the name of fundraising for ARADMAC, LULAC, and the West Oso Quarterback Club.

Selena Quintanilla

Before she became a Grammy-winning singer performing before sold-out crowds at Corpus Christi’s Memorial Coliseum and the Houston Rodeo, Selena Quintanilla-Perez just liked to sing and perform with her family.

The Mirador de la Flor on Corpus Christi’s bayfront rarely is without visitors. Fans flock from all corners of the globe to pay their respects to the beloved singer and performer who was murdered March 31, 1995.

“Dreaming of You” should have been the English crossover smash hit album for singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez, cementing her future as a star performer on the Spanish and English charts. Instead it ended up being a posthumously released sensation.

The biopic on Selena Quintanilla Perez was filmed in Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Poteet over four months in 1996. But did you know the film had a star-studded premiere in 1997 in Corpus Christi?

Read this during Hispanic Heritage Month

To the Latino culture, football is as Hispanic as “carne guisada.” A new book, “Latinos in American Football – Pathbreakers on the Gridiron, 1927 to the Present,” challenges and puts to rest those myths about the Latinos' love for and ability to play football.

In "The Inspiring Life of Texan Héctor P. García" we have a truly comprehensive resource detailing Garcia’s life on the front lines of the civil rights struggle, his work as a medical doctor and his role as a family man.

In “All the Agents and Saints – Dispatches from the Borderlands,” author-journalist Stephanie Elizondo Griest comes home and finds her true identity in an important ethnographic and sociological book that is easily one of the best books of the year.

In “Albert Peña Jr. – Dean of Chicano Politics,” the author shines light on a Hispanic civil rights giant who grew to legendary status in his hometown and South Texas as he fought discrimination and searched for educational and economic opportunities for Mexican Americans.

Sometimes it’s good to reach back to a good ol’ book that provides a well-written and well-described analysis of what you are looking for. Such is the case of “A Guide to Hispanic Texas,” printed in 1992 and again in 1996 under the guidance of the Texas Historical Commission after much research and time ensuring that the impact of the Hispanic Culture in Texas was finally recognized.

Allison Ehrlich writes about things to do in South Texas and has a weekly Throwback Thursday column on local history. Support local coverage like this by checking out our subscription options and special offers at Caller.com/subscribe