Alonso Perales
Alonso S. Perales was an influential Mexican American civil rights leader, born on October 17, 1898, in Alice, Texas. Orphaned by the age of twelve, he worked multiple jobs to support his education, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and a juris doctorate from National University. Perales played a pivotal role in the formation of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 1927, an organization created to combat the discrimination faced by Mexican Americans. He served as LULAC's second president and was instrumental in defeating the Box Immigration Bill of 1930, which proposed restrictive quotas on Mexican immigration. In addition to his activism, he was a prolific journalist and author, writing extensively on civil rights issues and racial discrimination. His contributions earned him recognition, including the Medal of Civil Merit from Spain. Perales's legacy is significant in the context of Mexican American history and civil rights advocacy, with LULAC continuing to play a crucial role in promoting equality and justice for Hispanic communities. He passed away in 1960 in San Antonio, Texas.
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Subject Terms
Alonso Perales
American lawyer, diplomat, and journalist
- Born: October 17, 1898
- Birthplace: Alice, Texas
- Died: May 9, 1960
- Place of death: San Antonio, Texas
Perales was a civil rights attorney, diplomat to Latin American countries, and second president of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).
Early Life
Alonso S. Perales (peh-RAH-lehs) was born on October 17, 1898, in Alice, Texas. Both parents died during his youth-first his mother, then his father. He was orphaned by the age of twelve and was therefore motivated to take care of himself. He worked various jobs during high school and college and used his earnings to pay for tuition and living expenses. However, his college days were cut short when he was drafted for military service during World War I.
Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Perales enrolled at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he eventually earned a bachelor of arts degree. Perales later enrolled at National University, where he earned a juris doctorate in 1926. While in college, he worked for the Commerce Department in Washington, D.C.
Soon thereafter, Perales married Marta Pérez y Peña. They adopted a daughter and two sons. In the 1920’s, Perales was appointed to serve as a diplomat in Chile, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and the West Indies. He remained in this role until the 1930’s.
Life’s Work
After the Mexican-American War ended, thousands of Mexican immigrants became U.S. citizens. However, they were not treated as citizens. Mexican Americans faced widespread discrimination. As a result, several civil rights organizations were founded. These organizations eventually merged to form the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 1927. Perales played a major role in the unification; his goal was to merge all Hispanic organizations in a show of solidarity and to fight the overt discrimination that was prevalent in America. Perales, along with José Tomás Canales and Eduardo Idar, created the LULAC constitution. He was sworn in as the group’s second president at its 1930 convention in Alice, Texas.
As president of LULAC, one of Perales’s greatest accomplishments was the defeat of the Box Immigration Bill in 1930, which would have put a quota on Mexican immigration to the United States. His other civic activities included founding the Independent Voters Association, a Mexican American political club in San Antonio, introducing legislation outlawing racial discrimination, and membership in other religious and civil rights organizations. For his civic activities, Perales was honored by Spain with the Medal of Civil Merit, one of the nation’s highest civil honors.
Perales also was a superb journalist. He published books, speeches, and essays. His book Are We Good Neighbors (1948) documents cases of racial discrimination, and En defensa de mi raza (1937) includes his essays and speeches on racial discrimination as well as writings of other advocates. In addition, Perales was a columnist for the Spanish publication La prensa. He wrote numerous articles for other Spanish publications, reporting on issues in the Catholic Church and civil rights battles in the Mexican community. Perales died in 1960 in San Antonio, Texas.
Significance
Perales’s defeat of the Box Immigration Bill holds great historical significance. The bill would have placed a quota on the number of Mexican immigrants permitted to enter the United States. Accompanied by Canales and civil rights activist Ben Garza, Perales went to Washington, D.C., and testified in congressional hearings against the bill. Perales was honored by Mexican Americans for his faith and courage in the face of tremendous adversity.
Perales was elected to serve as LULAC’s second president. Although he only served one term, his leadership was critical in the organization’s early days. For several decades following its founding, LULAC has remained a vital and influential organization.
Bibliography
Buitron, Richard A. The Quest for Tejano Identity in San Antonio, Texas, 1913-2000. New York: Routledge, 2004. Describes Perales’s importance as an intellectual and activist leader.
Kaplowitz, Craig Allen. LULAC, Mexican Americans, and National Policy. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2005. Detailed history of LULAC that examines its influence on national policy over the years. Includes discussion of Perales’s role.
Orozco, Cynthia. No Mexicans, Women, or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2009. Well-documented and thoroughly researched history of the drive for equal rights and treatment for Mexican Americans, including examination of Perales and LULAC.