Drama DRAMATIZATION a story based on true events
The FIGHT for
WHAT’SFor some, California in the 1940s was a dream: palm trees, beaches, glamorous movie stars. But for others, it was a RIGHT place of great injustice. Sylvia Mendez (right) and her family helped change that.
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16 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 17 Secretary: Those two may SEPARATE Characters enroll here, but not the AND UNEQUAL In the 1940s, Mexican- Circle the character you will play. *Indicates large speaking role Mendez children. Americans faced terrible Aunt Sally: Excuse me? prejudice. Many restaurants, *Stage Directors 1 & 2 (SD1, SD2) *Aunt Sally, Sylvia’s aunt Miguel, a classmate SD2: The secretary points at stores, and movie theaters Storytellers 1, 2, & 3 (ST1, ST2, ST3) Secretary *Mr. Marcus, a lawyer displayed signs like this one. Sylvia and Jerome, who have *Sylvia Mendez, an 8-year-old girl *Mama, Sylvia’s mother, Felícitas Mr. Harris, the superintendent Inset: First-grade students at dark skin and dark hair. Hoover School, a run-down Alice & Virginia, Sylvia’s cousins *Papa, Sylvia’s father, Gonzalo Judge Secretary: They have to go school that Mexican-American Jerome, Sylvia’s little brother Miss Wilson, Sylvia’s teacher Mrs. Hughes, an education expert children like Sylvia Mendez to Hoover, the Mexican were forced to attend. school. Aunt Sally: But they are American. As You Read What does it take to change society? Secretary (shrugging ): That’s the rule. Aunt Sally: Either all of them will go to school here, or none of them will. Aunt Sally: Good morning ! I’d like to register these Prologue SD1: Aunt Sally storms off with the children for school. Scene 3 SD1: Three storytellers stand in front of the curtain. children. The entrance to Westminster School Secretary: Names? SD2: As they start to speak, the Mendez family crosses Sylvia: Why can’t we go here, Tía? SD2: A group of kids walks onstage to Aunt Sally: Sylvia and Jerome Mendez. Alice and the stage, carrying suitcases. Aunt Sally: Don’t worry, Sylvia. It must the front of a modern-looking building: Virginia Vidaurri [vee-DAR-ee]. ST1: The year is 1944. be a mistake. Westminster School. SD1: The secretary looks at Alice and Virginia, who have ST2: Sylvia Mendez and her family have just moved to SD1: The sound of buses pulling away can be fair skin and light-brown hair. Westminster, California, from a nearby city. heard in the background. Scene 2 ST3: Sylvia’s father was born in Mexico. Her mother The Mendez family’s kitchen SD2: The white kids enter the school. A group of was born in Puerto Rico. They are both American SD2: In a small kitchen, Sylvia’s mother chops carrots Mexican-American kids, including Sylvia, Jerome, A BETTER LIFE citizens. and celery. Aunt Sally stirs soup in a large pot. Alice, and Virginia, linger behind. Sylvia’s parents, Felícitas and Gonzalo Mendez, moved their family ST1: Sylvia and her family are excited about their new to Westminster, California, to run their own asparagus farm. Both Mama: I don’t understand why my kids can’t go to SD1: They watch as the last of the white children life in Westminster. had faced years of discrimination, and they were school at Westminster. disappear into the building. Then they turn away and determined that their children would be treated ST2: But they are about to experience more fairly. Aunt Sally: I am sure it will get sorted out. begin to walk slowly across the stage. terrible injustice. Mama: What if it’s not a mistake, Sally? All over this area, Sylvia: Why can’t the bus take us all the way to Hoover? ST3: The family will take a stand. Mexican-Americans are segregated at restaurants, Virginia: I guess we’re not worth the trouble. All Storytellers: And they will change parks, swimming pools, movie theaters . . . Alice: Yeah, that’s why they put us in that shack they the course of history. SD1: Papa walks in, fuming. call a school. Mama: What did they say? Jerome: It isn’t fair. Scene 1 Papa: The principal and the superintendent said that Sylvia: No, it’s not fair at all. The office at Westminster School Sylvia and Jerome have to go to Hoover. SD1: The curtain rises on a school office. Mama: Why? Scene 4 SD2: A secretary sits behind a desk. Papa: They just kept saying, “That’s the way it’s done A classroom at Hoover School SD1: Sylvia and Jerome enter with their Aunt Sally and here.” SD2: The lights come up on a cramped, dimly lit their cousins Alice and Virginia. Aunt Sally: But Hoover is farther away. Plus, it’s very classroom. Sylvia: Our new school is so big and beautiful! run-down and right next to a smelly cow pasture. SD1: Sylvia and the other students sit at wobbly desks. Alice: Did you see the palm trees? Papa: This is not acceptable. Miss Wilson: Today the girls are going to learn how to Virginia: And the grassy fields? Mama: What can we do about it? sew, and the boys will build crates. Jerome: And the playground? Papa: I’m not sure. But a good education for our SD2: Miss Wilson passes out scraps of fabric to
SD2: Aunt Sally approaches the secretary. images) (all prohibited. is reproduction or Duplication only. permission with used be to family Mendez the courtesy of Pictures at Texas of University Thee American History, for Center Briscoe Dolph Werner), (Russell Collection, Lee creator: Photograph (Russell) Lee the From photo) (class prohibited. is reproduction or Duplication only. permission with used be to family Mendez the courtesy of Pictures (sign); Austin children is worth fighting for. the girls and pieces of wood to the boys.
18 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 19 Scene 6 SD1: Papa sits at a table near the front of the court. The Mendez family’s farm Sylvia and Jerome, dressed in their finest clothes, sit in SD1: The lights come up on a field of bright-green the gallery with Mama. asparagus. Mama, Sylvia, and Jerome are stooped over, SD2: Mr. Marcus questions the superintendent of the packing asparagus stalks into wooden crates. Westminster School District. Mama: Thank you for getting up early and helping with Mr. Marcus: Mr. Harris, is it true that children of the crops again. Mexican descent must attend Hoover School? SD2: Jerome yawns and rubs his eyes. Mr. Harris: No. Students who need extra help or don’t FIRST STEP TO EQUALITY When the Mendez family won their court case in Jerome: When will Papa be back? speak English go to Hoover. California in 1946, it inspired similar cases in Mama: Soon. He’s found three other families to join the Mr. Marcus: Do you give the students a test to see if they other states. Eight years later, the U.S. Supreme lawsuit so far, but he wants to find at least one more. know English? Court outlawed segregation in public schools throughout the entire country. Sylvia: If we win, will we go to that big, beautiful school? Mr. Harris: Yes, the principal speaks to them. Mama: That’s right. Sylvia (whispering to Mama ): That’s not true! The SD1: Sylvia raises her hand. Jerome: What if the kids at Westminster don’t like us? principal never talked to us. Sylvia: Miss Wilson, are we ever going to Sylvia: Sometimes they call us names in the park. One Mr. Marcus: Are there other reasons you send Mexicans read books or learn math? Scene 5 boy shouted, “Go back to Mexico!” to a different school? Miss Wilson: You don’t need to. I am teaching Mr. Marcus’s office Mama: If they don’t like you, it’s because they don’t Mr. Harris: They need to learn manners. you something more useful. SD1: The lights come up on a small office. know you. That’s what prejudice is—when you decide SD1: People in the courtroom shake their heads, SD2: Sylvia’s brow furrows as the lights fade. SD2: A man in a suit sits behind a large desk strewn you don’t like a certain group for no good reason. appalled. SD1: A moment later, the lights come up on the with books and papers. Jerome: I don’t like eating asparagus. Is that prejudice? Jerome (whispering ): I have better manners than he opposite side of the stage, where students are scattered SD1: He stands as Sylvia’s father, Mr. Mendez, walks SD1: Mama ruffles his hair. does. across a bare yard, eating their lunches. through the door. Mama: No, papito, prejudice is about something like Mr. Marcus: So if a Mexican child speaks English and has SD2: There are no tables or benches. The students stand Papa: Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Marcus. people’s skin color or religion. Now finish up—it’s good manners, could he or she attend Westminster? or sit on the ground. Mr. Marcus: Of course (motions for Mr. Mendez to sit ). almost time for school. Mr. Harris: Yes. SD1: Behind them, an electrified fence separates the Why don’t you tell me what is going on? Mr. Marcus: How many Mexican students are attending schoolyard from a cow pasture. Papa: My children aren’t allowed to attend our local Scene 7 Westminster now? SD2: Sylvia sits in the dirt with Jerome, eating an apple. school. They are forced to go to a separate school for A courtroom Mr. Harris: None. Jerome: The smell of those cows is really getting to me. Mexican kids that is farther away and not as good. SD2: The lights come up on a crowded Mr. Marcus: Out of the hundreds of children
SD1: Sylvia swats away flies. Another student walks up. Mr. Marcus: That is discrimination. We can file a ride) Bettmann/Getty (freedom Images Jr.); King (Martin Luther Images Archives/Getty Ochs Michael courtroom. at Hoover, not one is qualified to go to Miguel: Your father is going to get everyone in trouble. lawsuit, but we should get other families involved. Westminster? Sylvia: What do you mean? Papa: Why? Mr. Harris: Well, they can’t keep up. Miguel: He has started a petition saying we should go to Mr. Marcus: Our case will be stronger if we can prove They’re not as smart. the white school. He wants my parents to sign it. this is a widespread problem. SD2: Horrified gasps spread Sylvia: So? Everyone knows Westminster is a better Papa: I’ve talked to people all over town. No one wants across the courtroom. school than Hoover. to make trouble. Miguel: If my papa signs it, he could lose his job. Mr. Marcus: Then you’ve got to find families in other Sylvia: Well, my papa says it’s not fair to make us go to a cities. Try Garden Grove, Santa Ana, El Modena. PAVING THE WAY separate school. Papa: That’s going to take a lot of time. Mendez v. Westminster paved the way for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Martin Luther King Jr. (inset) was one of Miguel: You think you’re better than everyone else here? Mr. Marcus: Mr. Mendez, there are 5,000 children of the movement’s most famous leaders. Many young people also Sylvia: No. Mexican descent in Orange County. Let’s not do this played an important role. They challenged the unjust world they SD2: Sylvia stands up and dusts off her skirt. just for your children. were growing up in. They participated in protests like the Freedom Rides of 1961 (left), in which hundreds of black Americans and Sylvia: I just want to learn what kids at Westminster Papa: You’re right. Let’s do it for all the children. white Americans risked their lives simply by riding together on learn. SD2: The men shake hands. court) Bettmann/Getty (supreme Images (headline); Times Angeles Los buses through the Deep South.
20 SCHOLASTIC SCOPE • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 SCOPE.SCHOLASTIC.COM • DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 21 Informational Text Judge: Order ! Order in the court ! Scene 8 SD1: Mr. Marcus wears a triumphant expression. The Mendez family’s living room Mr. Marcus: No further questions, Your Honor. SD2: Sylvia walks into the room to find her parents Judge: You may step down, Mr. Harris. sitting on the couch. She sees that they have tears in Mr. Marcus: Your Honor, I now call Mrs. Marie their eyes. How to Be a Changemaker Hughes to the witness stand. Sylvia: What happened? SD2: Mrs. Hughes walks to the front of the courtroom. Papa: We . . . we won the lawsuit. You don’t have to be rich or famous to make the world a better place. Mr. Marcus: Mrs. Hughes, you are an education Mama: The judge ruled that all children should be Just ask these five kids. By Mackenzie Carro expert. Is that correct? treated equally, and that the segregation of schools is Mrs. Hughes: Yes, that is correct. unconstitutional. Mr. Marcus: In your professional opinion, is it SD1: Sylvia throws her arms around her parents. true that Mexican children cannot keep up, Sylvia: I will study hard and make you proud. as Mr. Harris claims? SD2: Papa looks at Sylvia and puts his Mrs. Hughes: No, of course not. Where hands on her shoulders. you are from, the color of your skin— Papa: Just remember, my sweet these have absolutely nothing to do Sylvia, it may not be easy at with academic aptitude. In my Westminster. Some of the kids there opinion, these claims are attempts may be unkind. to justify the racist practice of Mama: You’ve got to be brave. And 2 4 5 segregation. you’ve got to remember that you 1 3 Mr. Marcus: And in your professional have a right to be there. Same as opinion, is it helpful for Mexican anybody else. children to be schooled separately? A CELEBRATED HERO SD1: The curtain falls. Start small. Use your strengths and Tackle a problem. Marley Dias, Mrs. Hughes: No. Keeping them separate In 2011, 65 years after her Choose a project that talents for good. 12, from New Jersey, noticed that sends the message that they are family’s victory, Sylvia Epilogue you can chip away at. Trumpet player Katie Prior, many books on her school reading list received the Presidential 1 2 3 Donovan Smith, 14, from 16, from Oklahoma, learned that the had white children as the main characters. To somehow inferior. And it tells them they Medal of Freedom—one of SD2: The lights rise on the three New Mexico, makes soap in song “Taps” was often played at many address this lack of diversity, she started the are not wanted. the country’s highest storytellers in front of the closed curtain. honors—from then-President his spare time and donates veterans’ funerals using a recording social media campaign #1000blackgirlbooks. Mr. Marcus: Does attending a separate ST1: The Mendez v. Westminster trial was Barack Obama. it to homeless shelters. Over rather than a live performer. So she Through it, she collects books with diverse school help improve their English skills? one of the first times in the U.S. that a the past two years, he’s contacted her local funeral home. Now main characters and donates them to schools Mrs. Hughes: No. The best way to learn a new judge ruled it was unfair to segregate children at school. donated more than 17,000 she volunteers her time performing the around the world. She’s donated more than language is to be surrounded by other people who ST2: It paved the way for children all over the country. bars of soap. song live at veterans’ funerals. 9,000 books to date. speak it. ST3: But school integration wasn’t a smooth process. Mr. Marcus: Do you believe that the white and Many people opposed the new laws. Join a movement. Find people already tackling an Use your voice. Just because you can’t vote Mexican children should go to school together? ST1: For Sylvia, life at Westminster School was difficult issue that you care about, and ask how you can help. yet doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. Just look Mrs. Hughes: Yes. But not just so the Mexican children at first. 4 Jared Freedland, 16, from Washington State, wanted to 5 at Sylvia Mendez in the play you just read! You will have equal access to a good education. ST2: She was teased and taunted. help refugees. He reached out to a local program that helps can write to your mayor or representative in Congress, refugees get settled in the U.S. They needed blankets, so Jared write an opinion piece for your local paper, or make a Mr. Marcus: What do you mean? ST3: But she held her head high, remembering what her led an effort to sew and collect blankets for them. call-to-action video and share it on YouTube. Mrs. Hughes: Putting all the children together would parents had fought for. benefit everyone—all of us. For children to ST1: Sylvia went on to college and became a nurse. Writing Contest understand and respect each other, they need to ST2: Today she travels around the country telling her spend time together—learning and playing and family’s story and working to ensure— Consider this statement: Each of us has the power to make a change in the world. How does this sharing. That’s the first step toward ending prejudice. ST3: —that all children have the equal opportunity to statement relate to the play and the informational text? Answer this question in an essay. Use text evidence. Send your essay to Sylvia Mendez Contest. Five winners will each get Get this SD1: Sylvia squeezes Mama’s hand and smiles. learn. • Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. See page 2 for details. activity online. Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Newscom Kevin Dias Marley Courtesy Mecchi, of Cipriani Andrea (2); Prior Katie Courtesy (1); of Smith Donovan Courtesy wood); Novembers/Shutterstock.com of on (polaroids (5) prohibited. is reproduction or Duplication only. permission with used be to family Mendez the courtesy of Pictures (4); Freedland Jared Courtesy of (3);
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