El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española facts for kids
El Congreso de Pueblos de Habla Española, often called El Congreso, was an important group in California during the 1930s and 1940s. It was made up of Latino workers and people who fought for equal rights. They worked to improve life for Spanish-speaking people in the United States.
The first meeting of El Congreso happened on December 4, 1938, in Los Angeles. Luisa Moreno, a strong leader, helped start it. More than 100 groups attended, representing over 70,000 people.
Unlike some other groups that focused on helping Latinos become more "American," El Congreso welcomed everyone. This included immigrants who were not yet citizens. They also focused on helping working-class people. Even though they hoped to become a national group, El Congreso was most active in California. It had at least 10 branches around Los Angeles. The group became less active in the mid-1940s. This was partly because the FBI watched them closely.
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What El Congreso Believed In
El Congreso wanted to make working conditions better and ensure equal rights for all Latinos in the U.S. This included both citizens and immigrants. They supported many efforts to fight unfair treatment.
- They wanted better medical care for everyone.
- They pushed for more federal housing.
- They fought for fair wages.
- They worked to improve education.
The group especially focused on helping working-class people. Many of their leaders and members were also part of other worker groups. These included the CIO and UCAPAWA.
El Congreso encouraged workers to join unions. They believed people should unite no matter their citizenship status. They also spoke out against forced deportations during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people of Mexican descent were sent back to Mexico. Members were also asked to register to vote. They wanted people to help elect leaders who would fight for equality.
Fighting for Fair Laws
El Congreso played a big part in stopping several unfair laws in California. In 1939, they marched to the state capitol in Sacramento. They were protesting a bill called "the Swing bill." This bill would have stopped non-citizens from getting help from many New Deal programs.
Josefina Fierro de Bright, another key leader, met with Governor Olson. He eventually stopped the "Swing bill" from becoming law. El Congreso also opposed a bill in 1940 that tried to deport non-citizens who received state welfare. This bill also failed.
Improving Homes and Neighborhoods
El Congreso worked hard to make housing better for Mexican Americans in Los Angeles. At that time, many Mexican American neighborhoods were separate from others. They were often crowded and had health problems like tuberculosis.
In 1939, El Congreso started a campaign for public housing in Los Angeles. They focused on improving neighborhoods with things like electricity and better drainage. They also pushed for Mexican American families to be able to live in new public housing projects.
El Congreso argued that the U.S. Constitution promised equal rights to Mexican American citizens. They said denying them access to housing projects was wrong. They also said it made the U.S. look bad, especially with President Roosevelt's Good Neighbor policy towards Latin America.
In November 1939, El Congreso held a public meeting. Homeowners could talk with state officials about a new federal housing project. The government wanted to buy homes in areas like Maravilla Park and Ramona Gardens to build new low-cost housing. With help from El Congreso, many Mexican American families got fair prices for their homes. They were also able to move into the new low-cost housing.
Working for Better Education
El Congreso also focused on education. They wanted schools to offer bilingual education. They pushed for more chances for adults to learn, with teachers who spoke Spanish. They also wanted schools to teach Mexican history and culture.
They believed that teaching about Mexican history and contributions would help people understand each other better. It would also fight unfair ideas about Mexican people.
Some good changes El Congreso helped bring about included:
- Hiring more Mexican-American teachers in schools with mostly Mexican students.
- Training sessions for public school teachers on Mexican-American culture.
- Funding scholarships for Mexican-American high school and college students.
However, El Congreso was not successful in getting bilingual education in Los Angeles schools.
Women's Role in El Congreso
Women were very important to El Congreso. Leaders like Luisa Moreno and Josefina Fierro de Bright showed this. El Congreso was different from other Latino civil rights groups because it also fought for women's rights.
About 30% of El Congreso's members were women. Many held important leadership roles. At their second California state meeting, El Congreso passed a rule about gender equality. This rule recognized that Mexican and Mexican American women faced unfair treatment because of both their race and their gender. The group created Women's Committees in its branches. These committees worked for equal pay and encouraged Mexican American women to register and vote.
Key Leaders of El Congreso
Luisa Moreno was a main leader of El Congreso. She was an experienced union organizer. She used her many connections to help create the group. Josefina Fierro managed the daily work of the chapters in Southern California. Even though El Congreso did not last past the Cold War era, its leaders continued to work for Latino rights into the 1960s.
- Luisa Moreno
- Josefina Fierro de Bright
- Eduardo Quevedo
- Bert Corona
Connections to Other Groups
El Congreso was similar to other groups that fought against unfair treatment of people and workers. These groups were part of a movement called the "Popular Front." Many people thought El Congreso was like the National Negro Congress, which was started in 1935.
Because El Congreso worked closely with worker groups like the CIO, the FBI watched them more closely. This happened during World War II and continued into the 1950s, when there was a strong fear of communism.
