Texas independence belongs to the Tejano too

[David Van Os]

The Texas war of independence belonged to Tejanos and anglos alike. Together they were rebelling against Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's usurpation of power, overthrow of democracy, and dissolution of the Consitution of 1824 of the Republic of Mexico. They were not alone. For example the state of Zacatecas rose up against Santa Anna. He crushed the Zacatecas rebellion brutally.

Two of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence were Francisco Ruiz and Jose Antonio de Navarro, delegates from Bexar, for whom there are historical preserves in downtown San Antonio today.

Another signer was Lorenzo de Zavala, who resigned his position as Mexico's Minister to France in protest of Santa Anna's nullification of the Constitution. De Zavala was chosen by his fellow freedom fighters to became the first Vice President of the Republic of Texas. A biography of de Zavala states as follows: "A colonizer and statesman, Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala was one of the most talented and capable of the many native Mexicans involved in Texas' struggle for independence from Mexico."

Several Tejanos died defending the Alamo with Travis. Their names are equally entitled to enshrinement in the hall of heroes of Texas independence, just as much as the names Travis and Houston.

Later, racist historical revision went to great pains to deprive the Tejano of his rightful place in the political and cultural history of Texas. The original Texas was a melding of cultures. The southern slaveocracy took over, and schemed to bring Texas into the United States for the purpose of expanding slavery westward. The racist aristocracy that wrote the state's history books wrote the Tejano out of the story and stole his legacy from him. Viva libertad!

David Van Os

[VelmaD]

1. Thank you for reminding people

that our history is better than many were taught in school.

It's sad to know that the seeds of a better and more inclusive Texas were there at the beginning. Who knows what heights this state could have reached by now if we had lived up to that promise.

[Jack_DeLeon]

2. An excellent reminder to all of us.

[Mr_Spock]

3. Texas seems to have quite a bit or RW racism

One of the first things they want to tell you about is how macho & racist they are. At least the sales folks in my company are like that for some reason.

[mom cat]

4. I was required to take three cources in Texas history and never was told

this. Thanks for the education that I should have recieved 40 years ago.