A class apart : a Mexican American civil rights story

Miller, Peter, 1961- (film producer,, film director.). Sandoval, Carlos (Producer and director), (film producer,, screenwriter.). Grimberg, Sharon, (television producer.). Olmos, Edward James, (narrator.). Moore, Allen, 1952- (cinematographer.). Vega, Aaron, (film editor.). Schoenberg, Steven, (composer.). Camino Bluff Productions. (Added Author). Independent Television Service. (Added Author). Latino Public Broadcasting (Firm) (Added Author). WGBH (Television station : Boston, Mass.) (Added Author). PBS Home Video (Added Author). PBS Distribution (Firm) (Added Author).

Summary: In the small town of Edna, Texas, in 1951, field hand Pete Hernández killed a tenant farmer after exchanging words in a cantina. From this murder emerged a landmark civil rights case that would change the lives and legal standing of tens of millions of Americans. Tells the story of an underdog band of Mexican American lawyers who took their case all the way to the Supreme Court, where they challenged Jim Crow-style discrimination against Mexican Americans. Lawyers forged a daring legal strategy, arguing that Mexican Americans were "a class apart" from a legal system that recognized only blacks and whites.

Item details

ISBN: 0793670403
ISBN: 9780793670406
Physical Description: videodisc
1 videodisc (approximately 60 min.) : sound, color and black and white ; 4 3/4 in.
Edition: Widescreen.
Publisher: [Alexandria, Va.] : PBS Home Video ; [Arlington, VA] : [Distributed by] PBS Distribution, [2009]

Contents / Notes

General Note:	Videodisc release of the 2009 television program. Originally broadcast as part of the American experience television series. Documentary. Special features: "Making of" featurette with filmmaker interviews, behind the scenes footage, and photos; a slideshow of photographer Russell Lee's iconic images of Mexican American life in the 1940's; bonus scenes; materials for educators.
Formatted Contents Note:	Introduction to Hernandez v. Texas (2:31) -- Life in the 1950s (1:15) -- History of Discrimination (1:22) -- Racial Categories (0:27) -- Segregation (3:01) -- World War II (1:29) -- Private Felix Longoria: A War Hero Denied (1:53) -- Uphill Battle: Fighting for Equal Rights (1:55) -- The Murder of Pedro Hernandez (2:02) -- Gus Garcia (3:03) -- Trial of Pete Hernandez (2:30) -- A Civil Rights Case (3:37) -- Fight for Identity (2:32) -- Appeal Denied (1:16) -- Case Goes to Supreme Court (2:52) -- Gus Garcia's Problem (4:58) -- Supreme Court (3:45) -- Ruling Announced (2:47) -- Effects of Hernandez v. Texas (3:06).
Creation/Production Credits Note:	Director of photography, Allen Moore ; editor, Aaron Vega ; original music, Steven Schoenberg.
Participant or Performer Note:	Narrated by Edward James Olmos.
Target Audience Note:	Not rated.
System Details Note:	DVD; NTSC, region 1; widescreen (enhanced for 16 x 9 televisions); Dolby Digital 5.1 surround.
Language Note:	English or Spanish dialogue subtitled in English; optional Spanish subtitles; closed-captioned.