When Americans Lynched Mexicans By William D. Carrigan

when Americans Lynched Mexicans By WILLIAM D. CARRIGAN and CLIVE WEBBFEB. 20, 2015

The recent release of a landmark report on the history of lynching in the United States contributes significantly to the collective memory of American racial violence. While most discussions focus on African-American victims, it is crucial to acknowledge that lynchings also targeted numerous other racial and ethnic groups, particularly Mexicans. This essay explores the history of anti-Mexican lynching, its geographical scope, its similarities and differences with African-American lynchings, and the implications for understanding racial violence in American history.

Introduction

The history of lynching in the United States often emphasizes the violence inflicted upon African Americans, especially in the South. However, this focus sometimes neglects the widespread violence targeting other groups, notably Mexicans. These acts of mob violence, extending from the mid-19th to the early 20th centuries, reflect broader patterns of racial animus, xenophobia, and systemic injustice that shaped American society. Recognizing this history is vital for understanding how racial violence transcended simplistic racial categories and contributed to the marginalization of multiple groups.

Historical Context of Anti-Mexican Lynching

The phenomenon of lynching Mexicans in America predates and overlaps with the lynching of African Americans. Between 1848 and 1928, records document approximately 547 cases of mob violence against Mexicans, although the actual figures were likely higher given inconsistent record-keeping. These acts occurred across the Southwest—Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas—as well as in more distant states like Nebraska and Wyoming. The geographic dispersion underscores that anti-Mexican violence was not confined solely to border states but reflected widespread racial tensions nationwide.

Several incidents exemplify this violence. One early case is the 1873 lynching near Corpus Christi, Texas, where seven Mexican shepherds were hanged by vigilantes, possibly to intimidate their employer into selling land. Similarly, in 1851, a mob in California publicly hanged Juana Loaiza after accusing her of murdering a white man. Such public spectacles were intended not just to punish but to send a message of racial dominance and social control.

Mechanisms and Authorities Involved in Lynching

While popular discourse often attributes lynchings to extralegal mobs, the involvement of law enforcement and state authorities was pronounced in cases involving Mexicans. The Porvenir massacre of 1918 exemplifies this—a posse composed of Texas Rangers and local ranchers executed nearly twenty Mexican men without trial, under suspicion of espionage amid fears of revolution. This incident illustrates that mob violence against Mexicans often had an institutional backing or at least the tacit approval of authorities.

The lynching wave was fueled by evolving fears during revolutionary upheavals and border conflicts, especially the Plan de San Diego of 1915. Paranoia about Mexican revolutionary activities and racialized fears of insurrection led to systemic violence, including executions and massacres, often carried out with little or no legal process. State-sanctioned violence, aligned with local vigilantes, corrupted the distinction between legal justice and extralegal violence, perpetuating terror within the Mexican community.

Differences and Similarities with African-American Lynching

Although similarities exist—such as public spectacle, extrajudicial executions, and racial motivations—differences are notable. A key distinction is the active involvement of law enforcement in anti-Mexican lynchings, which was less common in the lynching of African Americans, particularly in the early periods of racial violence. The Porvenir massacre and other incidents demonstrate that authorities sometimes participated directly, blurring the line between state power and mob violence.

Moreover, anti-Mexican lynching was often motivated by fears of revolution and maintaining regional racial hierarchies rooted in white supremacy. In contrast, lynching of African Americans was primarily driven by racial terror and social control in the context of slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow laws. Despite these differences, both forms of violence served to reinforce racial and ethnic hierarchies.

Implications for American Historiography and Modern Discourse

Understanding the history of anti-Mexican lynching broadens our perspective on racial violence in America. It challenges the narrative that associates mob violence solely with African Americans, revealing that racial hostility in the U.S. has historically targeted multiple groups, often through systemic and institutionalized mechanisms. Recognizing these patterns informs contemporary debates on immigration, racial justice, and xenophobia, emphasizing that hate-driven violence has long-standing roots.

Conclusion

The history of lynching in America reveals complex and often overlapping layers of racial and ethnic violence. Anti-Mexican lynchings, characterized by both grassroots violence and collusion with law enforcement, played a significant role in shaping the racial landscape of the United States—especially in the Southwest but also across the country. Acknowledging this history is essential for fostering a more comprehensive understanding of racial injustice, confronting the legacies of violence, and promoting racial reconciliation in America. The story of anti-Mexican mob violence invites a reevaluation of American racial history, emphasizing that racial terror has repeatedly targeted multiple communities in the quest to uphold white dominance and control.

References

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