MEXICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL ASSOCIATION
How MAPA Was Formed
MAPA grew out of the many sad and difficult experiences of thousands of Mexican-Americans throughout California who have tried so hard to elect representatives of our community to state and local government.
After many defeats in 1954, 1956 and 1958, 150 of the most active Mexican-Americans from throughout California met at Fresno in April of 1960 and decided that what was needed was an organization that would be frankly Mexican-American and specifically and exclusively political. Some of those active at the first convention were: Juan Acevedo, Councilman Edward R. Roybal, Andrew Barrigan, Julius Castelan, Augustin Flores, Attorney Louis Garcia, Attorney Henry P. Lopez, Attorney J. Hector Moreno, Judge Leopoldo Sanchez and Richard Lucero.
This organization owes no allegiance to any political party. Its purpose is to be an effective instrument for the Mexican-American community to use in its effort to place capable and talented Mexican-Americans in elective and appointive offices.
It has in full swing a continuous program of voter education on all important legislative and governmental questions.
MAPA's Program
Here are the aims and purposes set forth two years ago at the founding state convention and reaffirmed at the second convention in May, 1961 at Los Angeles:
- A. The creation of non-partisan organization for the social, economic, cultural and civic betterment of Mexican-Americans and all other Spanish-speaking Americans through political action.
- B. The election and appointment to public office of Mexican-Americans and other persons sympathetic to our aims.
- C. To take stands on political issues, to present and endorse candidates for public office.
- D. To launch a voter registration drive throughout the state of California.
- E. To carry on a program of political education.
- F. To encourage increased activity in both major political parties, seeking election or appointment in the Democratic and Republican Central Committees, in political clubs such as the CDC and the Republican Assembly, and within the members' respective organizations such as labor unions, PTA, Church groups, etc.
MAPA Is An Organization For Political Action
In the world of politics, only large numbers of people speaking as one voice can be effective.
MAPA was built to take political action in behalf of the whole community, and not for the interests of any one person.
By helping the community, each individual will benefit.
Politics has always been the chess game of the ambitious, the informed, and the self-seeking person. We have been the pawns in this state for many decades.
Now we have learned the rules and the methods. Our ambitions have been whetted to elect informed candidates who are honest and sincere and who have the needs of the Mexican-American community in mind.
Through their election we can guarantee a better community for ourselves and our children.
The Need for Political Representation
We believe that the greatest need of the Mexican-American community today is to make itself heard, understood, and respected at every level of our government, — and in all parts of our society.
For 113 years the great Mexican-American community has been a part of California and of the United States, and yet in all that time not one of our community has ever sat in the State legislature, held a state-elected office, and seldom have Mexican-Americans been found in county and city government.
And . . . no member of the United States Congress has ever been a Mexican-American from California.
It is MAPA's aim to bring the Mexican-American community to its rightful place in all the councils of our government, to acquire the advantages of having representatives who will speak for us when decisions are made; and, most of all, to assume our share of responsibility as full-fledged citizens.
MAPA's Achievements
Through the dedicated work of its members, MAPA can already count several significant achievements.
- Important part in the election of Judge Leopoldo Sanchez.
- Significant part in re-election of Edward R. Roybal to his fourth term as Los Angeles Councilman for the Ninth District.
- Promotion of sound legislation on welfare and narcotics at the 1961 session of the California legislature.
State Officers
- President
- Edward R. Roybal
- Vice-President
- J. Hector Moreno
- Secretary
- Juan Acevedo
Northern California Officers
- Director
- Andrew Barrigan
- Vice-Director
- Louis Garcia
Southern California Officers
- Director
- Frank Casado
- Vice-Director
- Augustine Flores
A Word of Welcome
We in our community love our children and our families and our major plans are for their future. We may be unable to leave them an estate, but we can leave them a good and proud community in which to live.
Any sincerely interested person may join. The dues are only $3.00 per year, which includes both husband and wife.
For Further Information Contact:
Juan D. Acevedo, Secretary
Courtesy of Dept of Special Collections/UCLA Library, A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library, 405 Hilgard Ave, Box 951575, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575; https://www.library.ucla.edu/location/library-special-collections
http://content.cdlib.org/view?docId=hb1000058w&brand=oac4
Title: Mexican-American Political Association
By: Mexican American Political Association (Calif.), Author
Date: 1963
Contributing Institution: Dept of Special Collections/UCLA Library, A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library, 405 Hilgard Ave, Box 951575, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575; https://www.library.ucla.edu/location/library-special-collections
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Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, U.C. Los Angeles