Includes bibliographical references (pages 317-363) and index.

Coming to El Norte -- "An Excellent Education" -- "A Desire to Serve My Country" -- Barrio Americanism: constructing a veterans' movement -- The Felix Longoria incident -- The beginning of a protracted struggle -- The fifties: best of times, worst of times -- Unity as politics but no unity in politics -- From the halls of D.C. to the Barrios of Aztlan -- Lifelong pursuit of justice.

"In 1948, Three Rivers Funeral Home refused burial of the remains of Felix Longoria, a World War II veteran. For Dr. Hector P. Garcia this incident was an example of the bigotry and injustice that many Mexican Americans suffered in South Texas and throughout the United States. He and his fledgling organization, the American G. I.

Forum, stepped into the national consciousness to fight for Longoria and his family and to inspire Mexican-American participation in party politics and against segregation in the post-World War II years.".

"Ignacio M. Garcia's work Hector P. Garcia: In Relentless Pursuit of Justice examines one of the most influential individuals in the campaign for advancement of Latinos in American society and institutions. This long overdue work will help Latino and non-Latino readers and scholars better appreciate Hector Garcia and his many contributions to American civic culture."--BOOK JACKET.

Online resource; title from ePub and PDF title page (Digitalia, viewed October 13, 2014)