Felix Longoria's Wake Summary

Felix Longoria’s Wake, is focused on Felix Longoria a Mexican American from Three Rivers, Texas. The story that is told throughout the book is not one that occurred during the life of Felix, but instead the events that unfolded following his death. Felix was an American soldier who was shot and killed by a Japanese sniper in Luzon during World War II. The book highlights the details that followed his death and his body’s return to the United States. His widow Beatrice Longoria was faced with the difficult task of burying his body. Beatrice initial wanted to give her husband the burial he deserved in his hometown of Three Rivers. Tom Kennedy the owner of the Three Rivers Funeral home denied the use of the funeral home for Felix’s funeral. He …show more content…
Upon his involvement Garcia acted quickly. He knew of the segregation and racism the Mexican American people dealt with as he had lived through it himself. He enlisted the help of Lyndon B. Johnson a U.S. Senator. LBJ had long been a supporter of the Mexican American population and knew the hardships of the people of the Nueces Strip. Mexican American’s in the Nueces Strip did not receive the type of education Anglo’s did and were often taught in rundown buildings with poor instructors. The odds were stacked against the Tejanos as they endured racism and segregation. Despite claims that Three Rivers did not have these issues Tejanos were forced to live on their side of town and ultimately to be laid to rest on the opposite side of the cemetery. As the Longoria case gained national attention, Texas was receiving negative attention from the capital as well as foreign countries. The whole ordeal threatened Texas’ relations with Mexico. The Bracero act which allowed Texas to received cheap laborers from Mexico was at risk of being undone. Texas wanted Felix to be buried in San Antonio or Three …show more content…
Carroll reveled his thesis quickly in the book and continued to develop it throughout. Carroll’s thesis highlighted the oppression and racism Tejanos suffered in Texas and specifically the Nueces Strip. He stated just how difficult it was for Tejanos growing up, and the hardships that many individuals would experience throughout life. Carroll primarily told the story of Felix family’s strife and efforts to afford him a proper burial. While this was the main story involved in the book, the main thesis was broader in its attempt to reveal the political climate and the ideas and steps involved in the Chicano movement in Texas. The book kept close contact with the idea of racism and