Mendez v. Westminster preceded Brown and addressed desegregation of which group?

Mendez v. Westminster preceded Brown and addressed desegregation of which group?

• A. African American students
• B. Mexican and Mexican American students in Orange County
• C. Asian American students
• D. Native American students

Answer: (B)

Mendez v. Westminster focused on desegregating schools for Mexican and Mexican American students in Orange County, California. The case challenged the practice of assigning these students to separate, “Mexican” schools, arguing that separating children by national origin violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. This local ruling, decided in the 1940s, helped pave the way for later nationwide desegregation, culminating in Brown v. Board of Education.

Mendez v. Westminster focused on desegregating schools for Mexican and Mexican American students in Orange County, California. The case challenged the practice of assigning these students to separate, “Mexican” schools, arguing that separating children by national origin violated the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause. This local ruling, decided in the 1940s, helped pave the way for later nationwide desegregation, culminating in Brown v. Board of Education.