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La Prensa TexasEst. 1913
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Let's Talk About It

WERE YOU TAUGHT THIS HISTORY?

By Yvette Tello · Aug 6, 2026

Read in the original edition on Issuu

Were you ever taught about La Matanza, the lynching of Mexicans and Tejanos, segregated schools, “Whites Only” public facilities, or the role the Texas Rangers played in violence against Mexican American communities? Or did you first learn these truths through your parents, grandparents, or community elders? Too much of our history was left out of textbooks and classrooms. What were you taught? What do you believe future generations deserve to know?

Do you think our stories matter and silence should never erase them? Or do you believe what happened in the past is irrelevant at this point and learning about it will not make a difference? Let’s talk about it…

Let's talk about it: what our community said

Printed replies from readers on our page-2 conversation.

  • “Also, Texas Rangers were established to take away land from us!”

    Ismael Delgado

  • “During what is known as the Matanza between 1910 to 1920 it is believed that about 5,000 Mexicans / Tejanos were lynched or murdered in Texas. There were notorious events such as the Porvenir massacre . Read the book ‘Revolution in Texas’ by Benjamin Heber Johnson”

    Rene Rincon

  • “I read that a town in Texas had two hanging trees. One was for whites and the other for people of color.”

    Maria Ana Nunez

  • “Also in SW Texas ...there were segregated schools for Indigenous people until the 70s”

    Cindy Smith Marquez

  • “My dad always told us stories that Hispanics were even treated worse than our dark brothers”

    Elizabeth Felan Melgoza

  • “They used them to kill natives and all the buffalos in the states; Buffalo Soldiers”

    Elizabeth Felan Melgoza

  • “Elizabeth Felan Melgoza my mother growing up could not go swimming in the city public pools cause they were not allowed, whites only and we ain't dark”

    Ralph Elizondo

  • “Sounds familiar now, and it's heartbreaking to think about the struggles our ancestors faced. We need to keep sharing these stories so we can learn from them.”

    Jose Cota

  • “What Part Of Texas My Grandparents Move To Lubbock, Texas in 1918 From South Texas Never Knew They Lynch Tejanos”

    Rick Melgoza

  • “Keep teaching the conveniently erased history! Don’t stay silent!”

    Teresa De Jesus Escandon

  • “Kinda like modern MAGA”

    Luis M. Pineda Sr.

  • “I believe I've read it was Texas Rangers”

    John Perez

  • “One thing I would like to correct: yes, that did happen but we did get something out of it; Mexican heroes whose legendary acts are not forgotten.”

    Jamie M Meza

  • “My grandparents lived in the USA in the early 1900 to the 1930's. Grandma said they moved to Mexico because "the situation" was too difficult. I think this is what she meant.”

    Fernando Yebra

  • “It's horrible what happened. And it's wonderful that it no longer happens. There are now equal rights for the US Mexican heritage citizen, and there is no one around that hung a Mexican or someone around that had a relative that was hanged. It's good to not erase history and it's even better to see how long we've come.”

    Pete Castro

  • “Yes , my ancestors taught us this”

    Tony Tony

  • “This happened in California as well.”

    Yolanda Wright

  • “A repeat in history”

    Rose Herrera

  • “A must know story”

    John Sanchez

  • “Thank you for sharing Mexican American culture, history, and pride. Never taught in public school’s history”

    Maria Elena Ramirez

  • “My father & uncle told us stories of these lynchings.”

    Teresa M. Morales

  • “Thank you for disclosing the truth”

    Diana Vallarta Sandoval

  • “I'm not surprised!”

    Yvonne Escamilla

  • “Say king ranch without saying king ranch !”

    Bennie Garcia

  • “Well let's hold them accountable!”

    Mike De Los Santos

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