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Blood and Resilience: New exhibit shows Mexican American Struggles in Texas

New exhibit by The Mexican American Museum of Texas showcases Texas’ history of Mexican American citizens in early 1900s.

The white walls of the Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery at the University of Dallas are adorned with red plaques recounting one of the most violent periods in Texas history. Each plaque vividly depicts the challenges and hardships faced by Mexican Americans in the early 1900s.

The "Life and Death on the Border" gallery at the University of Dallas on June 28, 2024. The...
The "Life and Death on the Border" gallery at the University of Dallas on June 28, 2024. The installation by the Mexican American Museum explains the history of the Texas-Mexico border between 1910-1920, including the violence and upheaval that defined much of that decade. (Azul Sordo / Special Contributor)

“Life and Death on The Border 1910-1920″ focuses on the history of las matanzas, or the killings of Mexican Americans that occurred in South Texas. The exhibit originally comes from the Bullock Texas State History Museum in partnership with the Refusing to Forget Project, a nonprofit that educates people on the racial violence that occurred on the Mexico-Texas border.

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“It’s a tough history, but history has tough parts and if you don’t address them head on then you don’t learn from them,” said Gustavo Hinojosa, president and director of The Mexican American Museum of Texas. “And that’s why we thought it was important to showcase this exhibit.”

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One of the plaques in the exhibition talks about the prominent families from Mexico that came to the United States to seek their fortunes. Another talks about the importance of the railroads that brought Anglo settlers who imposed on Mexican culture.

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The Texas Rangers are also mentioned in the gallery. Their plaque talks about how the Rangers would kill or imprison anyone who looked of Mexican descent, and how they were hailed as heroes to the Anglo population. Other plaques talk about the “Juan Crow” laws, which prevented Hispanics from going to the same places as Anglos.

Mexican American Museum Director Gustavo Hinojosa wanted to bring this exhibition to North...
Mexican American Museum Director Gustavo Hinojosa wanted to bring this exhibition to North Texas and inform the community about this time in Texas history.(Azul Sordo / Special Contributor)

“Not Mexican enough to be Mexican and not Anglo enough to be considered American by Anglos,” Hinojosa said. “We’re in a weird place.”

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In the center of the gallery stands a long table with red, green, blue and white tablecloths draped over it representing the colors of the Mexican and U.S. flags. Above hang nooses, which reflect the many Mexican American lives lost through hangings. Hinojosa was the mastermind behind the art installation. He wanted to create a physical representation of what it means to be Mexican American.

An art installation sits at the center of the "Life and Death on the Border" gallery at the...
An art installation sits at the center of the "Life and Death on the Border" gallery at the University of Dallas. The installation, created by Mexican American Museum Director Gustavo Hinojosa, represents the loss of life during "las matanzas" of 1910-1920. (Azul Sordo / Special Contributor)

“The walls are covered with boards that say a lot of information,” he said. “We felt that there needed to be something in the center that gives the exhibit some heart. How do we express in three-dimensions the essence of this exhibit, which is the killings, the matanzas, married with what it means to be Mexican American.”

The Mexican American Museum of Texas has existed for two years. This is its third exhibition. The museum does not have a building, so instead it does pop-up exhibitions. Previous exhibitions include a look at family history with tamale recipes, and “Tejanas at the Alamo.”

“There is no museum in Texas that captures the whole Mexican American experience,” Hinojosa said. “And in Texas, a little over 40% of the population is Hispanic, and of that 40%, 80% have Mexican roots.”

Details

“Life and Death on the Border 1910-1920″ is on view from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 15 at the Beatrice M. Haggerty Gallery in UD’s Art History Auditorium, Gorman Drive and Haggar Circle, Irving. A private tour can also be requested via gallery@udallas.edu. tmamt.org.

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