SAN MANUEL, TEXAS – The Refusing to Forget Project, along with UTRGV Mexican American Studies Program, is hosting a series of events to commemorate the unveiling of a historical maker that recognizes the violence done to Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the Rio Grande Valley from 1910-1920.
This critical time in the shaping of the Rio Grande Valley is often a forgotten part of area history. The event will remember the deaths of Jesus Bazán and his son-in-law, Antonio Longoria, at the hands of Texas Rangers as they rode their horses along a dirt road near their ranch outside of Edinburg.
There will be a ceremony at 9:30 am at the intersection of Expwy. N. 281 frontage road and East State Highway 186 (1017) in San Manuel. At noon in the UTRGV Edinburg Campus Ballroom, there will be a series of panels discussing the era and its events. The Bazan/Longoria family will hold a panel discussing their lost relatives, followed by a special presentation by the Mexican American Studies students at Donna High School at 1:30 PM and a roundtable discussion dealing with teaching Mexican American Studies and this history in schools.
The University Library will also be conducting Harvest Days from noon to 5 p.m., and encourages families to bring in historic photos, letters, diaries and other documents related to the early 1900s. Special Collections Library staff and volunteers will scan these items on the spot and immediately return them to visitors. The library will retain copies of the scans for the archives. Oral histories can also be recorded onsite. History Harvest attendees will have the opportunity to view historic film clips from the region at the event.
There will be a series of events leading up to the marker commemoration. At the UTRGV Brownsville Campus, Salon Cassia, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, Dr. Trinidad Gonzales will talk about the five-year history of Refusing to Forget. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Dustin M. Sekula Library in Edinburg, Monica Martinez Muñoz and Christopher Carmona will hold a dialogue about their new books. At 9 a.m. Nov. 2 at UTRGV Edinburg Campus, there will be two UTRGV Mexican American Studies Student Panels discussing their work on these events and their work in the community. Later at 6 p.m., there will be an art and poetry show opening at Hinovations Gallery in McAllen. All events are free and open to the public. Parking at the university will be free for the events on Saturday.
For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Carmona at 956-882-7302 or email him at [email protected], or Dr. Trinidad Gonzales at [email protected] or 956-207-0828.
This event is sponsored by the Refusing to Forget Project, UTRGV Mexican American Studies Program, CMAS at UT-Austin, Latino & Mexican American Studies at Texas A&M University, South Texas College, UTRGV Library, LUNA Student Club, Hinovations Art Gallery, and the Hidalgo Country Historical Commission.
Schedule of Events
Saturday, Oct. 27: 10 a.m. to noon, UTRGV Brownsville Campus, Salon Cassia (Main Hall 2.402) Dr. Trinidad Gonzales presents “Refusing To Forget: A Five Year Perspective on Remembering State Sanctioned Violence and a Community’s Resilience”
Thursday, Nov. 1: 6-8 p.m. Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library, 1906 S Closner Blvd, Edinburg, En Diálogo: Monica Muñoz Martinez, author of The Injustice Never Leaves You: Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas, and Christopher Carmona, author of El Rinche: The Ghost Ranger of the Rio Grande, in conversation.
Friday, Nov. 2: 9-10:30 a.m. – UTRGV Edinburg Campus Student Union Theater 1.102, Historical Trauma and Healing via Oral History and Muralism, (Re)Writing the History of El Rinche ‘El Ronco’ Tom Mayfield in San Juan, Pharr and Alamo.
10:40 a.m. – noon – Historical Perspectives of State Sponsored Violence against Mexican-origin People and Other Civil Rights Violations. Dr. Maritza de la Trinidad (Moderator).
1-3 p.m. – University Library Oral History Workshop Training. by Dr. Monica Muñoz Martinez.
6-9 p.m. Hinovations Art Gallery, 1009 Laurel Ave, McAllen, Resilience en el Valle: Responding through Art, opening of art show and poetry reading.
Saturday, Nov. 3: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Intersection of Expwy. 281 N and State Highway 186 (1017) San Manuel, Bazan/Longoria Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony.
Saturday, Nov. 3: At the UTRGV Edinburg Campus – University Ballroom
Noon -1:20 p.m. – Bazan/Longoria Family Panel.
1:30-3 p.m. – Donna High School Mexican American Studies Student Presentations.
3:10-4:40 p.m. – MAS Education Roundtable
Saturday, Nov. 3: – At the Hinovations Art Gallery, 1009 Laurel Ave, McAllen
6-8 p.m., Closing Reception for the Refusing to Forget Project. Food & Drinks will be provided.
