The Longoria Affair 2010
Distributed by The Kitchen Sync Group, 7 Third St, Warwick NY 10990-1633; 516-983-5797
Produced by John J. Valadez
Directed by John J. Valadez
DVD, color, 52 min. SHD captions
Jr. High - General Adult
American Studies, Ethics, History, Human Rights, Military Studies, Multicultural Studies, Political Science, Social Sciences, Sociology, World War II
Date Entered: 12/21/2011
Reviewed by Douglas Reed, Department of Political Science, Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, ARThe Longoria Affair fills a void in America’s civil rights story, lending a powerful voice to the Mexican-American struggle for equality.
The film chronicles an incident in the 1940s that sparked a political movement among Latinos in the U.S. When Private Felix Longoria was killed in action during World War II, the only funeral parlor in his hometown of Three Rivers, Texas, would not let his family use its chapel for Longoria’s wake. The rebuff unleashed a firestorm of controversy, prompting WWII veteran Dr. Hector Garcia to enlist public officials in the fight against such discrimination. U.S. Senator Lyndon B. Johnson was the only one who responded directly, enabling Garcia to forge a fruitful yet complicated relationship with the senator. A first step was Longoria’s burial in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. Garcia’s mobilization efforts then paved the way for the Hispanic “swing” vote in the 1960 election and later influenced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Valadez skillfully weaves together archival images and personal interviews that go beyond telling one man’s story. He allows the people of Three Rivers to speak for themselves, balancing the views of activists with that of citizens who did not feel racism played a role in the Longoria Affair. Moreover, the film teaches several valuable lessons on the art of civic engagement – how to launch a successful grassroots effort; how to work within the system to achieve political goals; and how to manage the limitations of political alliances.
The Longoria Affair aired on the PBS Independent Lens series and, in 2011, added an Emmy nomination to its lengthy awards list.
Highly recommended for academic and public libraries, The Longoria Affair is also an excellent teaching tool for courses in multicultural studies, political science, and sociology.