A community collaboration was the vision of then television news reporter Maria Velasquez, who worked with photographer Manny “Memo” Cavada to oversee a 10-member team of Latino photographers and two volunteer journalists from the San Diego Union-Tribune. A volunteer board sought community profile nominations and heightened awareness of this self-esteem project. This creative effort was the genesis of the Latino Legacy Foundation’s mission to preserve the history and accomplishments of the Latino community, which led to this online book project, San Diego Latino Legacy, Timeline-Milestones-Stories.
Although devastated by the passage of Proposition 187, Corona says, “One of our biggest contributions was to do voter registration… get out and walk districts to support candidates that were actually doing work that supported the community’s voice.” The passage of Proposition 187 resulted in a lawsuit filed by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to halt its implementation. According to MALDEF, “exit polls showed three quarters of Latino voters opposed Prop 187. On July 29, 1999, a Federal District Court found it to be unconstitutional and in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and its protection of all individuals, regardless of citizenship status.
Student Guadalupe Corona with Civil Rights Leader César Chávez, 1987 (Photo courtesy ©Guadalupe Corona Archives)
100 Portraits In response to the negative immigrant stereotypes of Proposition 187’s political television campaign, a traveling photographic exhibit entitled “100 Portraits, Pioneers, Visionaries, and Role Models” featured local San Diegans of Mexican heritage, highlighting their contributions and legacy. Among the unanticipated outcomes of Proposition 187 was the mobilization of immigrants to become naturalized citizens and an increase of Latinos seeking elected office. The California Latino Caucus, comprised of State Senate and Assemblymembers, was founded in 1973, and had only five members. After Proposition 187, Latino membership grew to 14 and has since expanded to 38.
Second from right, Memo Cavada & Team, 1994 100 Portraits, Pioneers, Visionaries & Role Models (Photo courtesy ©Latino Legacy Foundation)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 6 – Perseverance
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