The Injustice Never Leaves You

Anti-Mexican Violence in Texas

By: Monica Muñoz Martinez

Narrated by: Kyla García

Between 1910 and 1920, vigilantes and law enforcement-including the renowned Texas Rangers - killed Mexican residents with impunity. The full extent of the violence was known only to the relatives of the victims.

Operating in remote rural areas enabled the perpetrators to do their worst: hanging, shooting, burning, and beating victims to death without scrutiny. Families scoured the brush to retrieve the bodies of loved ones. Survivors suffered segregation and fierce intimidation, and yet fought back. They confronted assailants in court, worked with Mexican diplomats to investigate the crimes, pressured local police to arrest the perpetrators, spoke to journalists, and petitioned politicians for change.

Martinez reconstructs this history from institutional and private archives and oral histories, to show how the horror of anti-Mexican violence lingered within communities for generations, compounding injustice by inflicting further pain and loss. Yet its memorialization provided victims with an important means of redress, undermining official narratives that sought to whitewash these atrocities. The Injustice Never Leaves You offers an invaluable account of why these incidents happened, what they meant at the time, and how a determined community ensured that the victims were not forgotten.

©2018 the President and Fellows of Harvard College (P)2019 Tantor

Must read

An eye opening must read that gave me the privilege of learning about my history.

Educational

This book should be added to the Texas History curriculum in all of the schools. It’s brilliantly written and is the harsh truth about racism. As a Mexican immigrant myself raised in the state and of Texas it’s eye opening. I never understood why I was targeted by racist. Not everyone Texan is bad but I love this state and not going anywhere. This is home!!!! I’ve recommended this book to my family and friends!!!!

A direct descendant

I am extremely grateful to Dr. Martinez for telling our stories. History has been whitewashed. Many of us know the truth and now the truth is being recognized and shared.

Great start to learning about the injustice endured by Mi Gente in TX

Great book. Sharing with my family so that they understand our peoples injustice and the terror felt by Mexicans at the hands of Texas lawmen.

Excellent research based undertold Texas history

This book provides an important part of Texas history that remains hidden to many Texans. Examination of this historical narrative provides a better understanding of our collective past and a path to begin the an honest, open discussion of Texas history.