Election seasons have always been filled with political and partisan appeals to various groups of people: special interest groups, religious organizations, ethnic voting blocs, and more. One group which has received a dramatic increase in political and journalistic attention over the last few years are Tejanos: Texans of Mexican or Hispanic descent. Much digital ink has been spilled over Tejano voting history and practice: will they vote Democratic blue? Are Republican red numbers increasing since the Trump presidency? But while it can be tempting to presume that so-called interest groups like Tejanos will vote one way or the other—red or blue—it is not so simple. And it never has been.
To help us understand the complex and critical role of Tejano politics, in history and today, we welcome two incredible guests:
Max Krochmal is Professor of History and the Czech Republic Endowed Professor and Director of Justice Studies at the University of New Orleans. He is the author of Blue Texas: the Making of a Multiracial Democratic Coalition in the Civil Rights Era and co-editor of Civil Rights in Black and Brown: Histories of Resistance and Struggle in Texas.
Jack Herrera is a senior editor at Texas Monthly, covering primarily Latino issues, immigration, and elections. He has written extensively on these topics for an array of journalistic outlets, including Texas Monthly, Politico Magazine, The Guardian, Pacific Standard, and Salon.
Parking will be available on the SMU campus. FREE passes will be emailed to registered guests before the event. Seating is limited, and not guaranteed. This event will NOT be live-streamed, but will be recorded and available for viewing on our website (smu.edu/cph) about a week after the event date.
TEACHERS ONLY -- Please sign in at the registration table to receive continuing education credit.
We hope you can make it!
Center for Presidential History
This event is cosponsored with the Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute's Scott-Hawkins Lecture Fund.
