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Tejano Learning Center, San Antonio, TX (2026)

10/16/2026

Truly, traditional performing arts such as dance have long offered a non-written manuscript of community, genealogical social connectivity passed on through hand movement, music, costumes, and related rituals. So it is that to mark the official end of Hispanic Heritage Month 2026, here’s a taste of rarely highlighted, but much a part in the lives of a large segment of the U.S. population (esp. Texas & Southwest).
Today, we shine the spotlight on our vibrant Spanish Mexican dance repertoire, including world-wide admired synchronized dancing (Flor de Piña, Feria Nacional del Elote, et al). (See enclosed slide).
Through a heartfelt, “Blood is thicker than Rio Grande water” approach, these artistic gems have maintained a huge audience on this side of the border since 1848. For example, Spanish Mexican dance studios abound in Texas & Southwest.
Truth be told, Mexican regional dances are equal in heritage value to the other Spanish Mexican enriching traits that have been culturally embraced (appropriated) by official Texas history, such as the iconic Álamo, San Antonio’s historical district, the ranching, cowboy, rodeo phenomena, the Texas Longhorn (Cuerno Largo) mystique, Mexican food, women’s property rights, landowner water rights, and so much more.
By way of background, in 1848 the U.S. hastily drew the U.S.-Mexico borderline in the middle of “Old México”, causing two outcomes. (l) The border became a permanent Mason-Dixon Line, splitting the existing Spanish-speaking population in two. (2) Though the boundary looked good on paper, the U.S. has indeed absorbed the territory, it has been unable to erase Northern Mexico people’s Spanish Mexican-based cultural heritage.
Summary. Even today, most folks in the U.S. fail to grasp the idea that Texas & Southwest are in occupied Northern Mexico land. If only misinformed mainstream members of U.S. society learned about and accepted the basic fact that this is New Spain and not New England, most if not all of today’s confusing, confrontational U.S.-Mexico relationship would disappear.
Finally, our fundamental cultural family preserves a united legacy that endures on both sides of the border. The proof is there. That’s why Borderlands residents speak Spanish and look like family. In short, Californios, Nuevo Mexicanos, Tejanas & Tejanos aren’t giving up their heritage. That’s due in large part to online media booster shots now teeming with long-ignored early Texas & Southwest Spanish Mexican Native American people, places, and events.
In closing, “We didn’t cross the border; the border crossed us.” Said another way, “We came with the real estate.” “¡Áquí todavía estamos, y no nos vamos! (We are still here; we never left; and we’re not leaving!)

10/14/2026

Today is the ninth anniversary of the unveiling of La Matanza Marker in Cameron County. (Note: A timely reminder that echoes today’s persecution of Spanish Mexican-descent Texans, descendants of the founders of this great place we call Texas.)
English translation for Matanza: slaughter; massacre; killing fields. (See slide for brief details.)
Some years ago, author/historian Kirby Warnock set out to write a story about the Texas Rangers. To kick off his project, he interviewed his grandfather. Mr. Warnock fully expected confirmation of the Texas Ranger image as white-hat, good guys we’ve all learned through fiction novels & especially Hollywood myth-wrapped western movies.
Mr. Warnock was shockingly surprised to learn the opposite from his grandpa. His follow-on extensive research and first-hand interviews exposed the legendized history of the Texas Rangers.
In reality, the Texas Rangers were known to employ seedy characters lacking a moral code. Many were running away from justice in the U.S. So, they weren’t hired for law enforcement. Rather, they were employed with basically one purpose -- to intimidate Tejanos into selling their ranchos. J.T. Canales and his family weren’t playing that game. They stood their ground and fought rich land-craving businessmen and their private army of lawless, rogue Texas Rangers.
The unchecked Texas Ranger brutal behavior led to long-running criminal activities & a killing spree of 5,000+ South Texas Tejanos. (Note: Though Mr. Warnock stopped counting at 5,000, the total is thought to be much higher. Alas, Texas Rangers were never held accountable. Some rangers were rewarded with medals & promotions for their criminal conduct.)
Bottom Line. La Matanza experience demonstrates how the murderous mayhem was normalized then, and how it’s being normalized today in the 21st century. As of now, Texas state officials apparently aren’t interested in stopping the overt racial profiling of Spanish Mexican-descent Texans, who since 2022 have regained majority population status in Texas. Finally, our discussion brings us to one last question. Is this the time that the Sleeping Giant awakens? Inquiring minds want to know.
In closing, many in U.S. mainstream society still worship the movie lot-created Texas Ranger persona and admire vigilantism (outlaw) myths that caused the La Matanza murders. Explaining why, English Poet George Orwell says it best: “Myths that are repeated will be accepted only by the weak-minded”.

10/12/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month (Continued) & start of Indigenous Heritage Month 2026. Missions and Presidios represent the two main structures within the Spanish colonial framework in New Spain (Texas and Southwest). By way of background, missions were indigenous religious sanctuaries and presidios were military compounds.
(Note: For generations, tourists and locals have visited these San Antonio historical structures without giving much thought of their pre-1836 history. So, here it is.
MISSIONS. Contrary to the bad press (Black Legend propaganda) Spanish missions receive in mainstream media, missions were much in demand by indigenous leaders for 2 main reasons:
(l) Powerless, peaceful tribes often asked the Catholic Church to build missions in their territory because they feared tribe-on-tribe violence. A case in point is Jumano leader Juan Sabeata who in 1683 is identified as the first indigenous person to approach the Santa Fe Abbot and specifically requested that Catholic missions be established in Texas as the only way to stem stronger tribes’ attacks.)
(2) Missions were the Spanish Monarch’s way to introduce indigenous populations to Christianity. It’s important to note that once Native Americans successfully completed their Christian confraternity training, missions were decommissioned, closed, and some turned into Roman Catholic Churches.
Important Foot Stomper Note. A little-known secret about Spanish missions? Missionaries were the first Rancheros (Ranch Foremen), and their Native American flocks (Indians) were the first cowboys and cowgirls. Another hidden gem? Mission indigenous cowboys and cowgirls disprove the Hollywood-created myth “Cowboys & Indians” since they are one-and-the-same.
PRESIDIOS. Main purpose was to shelter Spanish soldiers and their families as the Spanish made their exploratory advances in Northern Mexico (Texas & Southwest). Initially, Native Americans shunned presidios and for good reason. Most of the early contact between the two diverse groups was violent, with many deaths resulting on both sides.
DISCUSSION. Due to their opposite assignments (religious vs. military), missions and presidios were built far apart from each other. Once peace was generally restored, the distance between the two was often shortened, ensuring better use of ever-shrinking manpower resources (re: Presidio San Antonio de Béxar ending up being next door to Misión San Antonio de Valero).
As for Presidio San Antonio de Béxar (AKA el Álamo), Spanish authorities ended its military purpose. Soon thereafter, local Bexareños absorbed the area, and the walled compound became part of the expanding San Antonio community.
(Note. When Lt. Colonel José Bernardo Gutiérrez de Lara Uribe took over San Antonio after the successful first Texas Independence in 1813, he realized that Presidio el Álamo was now part of the civilian community. Thus, he camped his troops outside of town, near Mission Concepción.)
QUESTION. What became of el Álamo Presidio, where the 1836 battle took place? In trying to erase the Spanish Mexican footprint in San Antonio, city officials demolished it and sold the grounds (ostensibly to themselves) for commercial development. Thankfully, Adina de Zavala, singlehandedly stopped the Anglo wrecking ball from destroying mission San Antonio de Valero, the Convento, and the Álamo Plaza historical district. (FYI, Adina’s courageous role in saving San Antonio’s Spanish Mexican-built historical structures is a topic for a future article.)
Finally, for those who want to see what a presidio looks like, visit Presidio La Bahía in Goliad, Texas (Remember, Goliad is pronounced w/ emphasis on the ‘a’, not the ‘o’. That’s all folks!)
“…and now, you know the rest of the story.” (Paul Harvey).

10/08/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month (Continued). At first, General Guadalupe Victoria sought a win-win solution by inviting Anglo immigrants from the U.S. to help Mexican families settle north and northeast Texas. Yet, the situation soon soured for two reasons: (l) the tsunami-proportion wave of undocumented Anglo immigrants “Without Papers” crossing into Mexico and squatting on Mexican land. (2) Mexico officially abolished slavery in 1829, the first country in America to do so. In short, the Anglo newcomers refused to free their slaves.
Worsening the boiling point was that the Anglo immigrants didn’t support the “Live and let live” arrangement that the Spanish (Mexico) had with area Native Americans. So began a brutal campaign (headed by Stephen F. Austin) to nearly exterminate the Karankawa people who for centuries had called the Texas coastline home. (Note: Thankfully, the Karankawa people continue to make a comeback.)
Shortly after, the Anglos succeeded in seceding from Mexico (something that Texanos didn’t support). So, not only did the Anglo immigrants turn on Native Americans, but they also turned on and betrayed their Mexican benefactors.
In summary, Gen. Victoria’s initial goodwill gesture of inviting U.S. Anglo immigrants led to a long-term loss for Texanos & Texanas. Shortly after 1848, Spanish-speaking residents were relegated to a subordinate, colonial-style social class. Sadly, that punishment officially lasted for over 100 years.
The question is how did events in Texas and Southwest go from Gen. Victoria’s good neighbor policy and later the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to “We don’t serve Mexicans” & “Mexicans not Allowed” in their homeland? In my view, the answer is obvious; a deliberate Anti-Mexico (Mexican) smear campaign began in 1848 where even the sound of Spanish being spoken in former New Spain frightened the arriving English speakers.
With deserved thanks to Pres. LBJ in the 1960s, Spanish Mexican-descent Texans have made progress. Yet today anti-Mexico animosity has “reared its ugly head” once again. Sadly, brown-skin Mexican-descent Texans (& Native Americans) are stopped, arrested, and imprisoned for speaking Spanish and while going about their daily lives.
Important Foot Stomper Note! Regardless of the on-going blatant assault on Spanish Mexican-descent Texans, we must never forget that we are descendants of the original residents of Northern Mexico (Texas & Southwest). Meaning? It’s our equivalent to a “Golden Ticket”, allowing us to celebrate our Spanish Mexican culture “on this side of the border” year-round. Said another way, recognition & acceptance of these documented facts is all that we ask of State of Texas officials -- our fair share in the official history of this great place we call Texas.
“¡Ahí va mi espada; en prenda voy por ella!” (Mexican Lt. Fernández y Pérez; (Gen. Guadalupe Victoria).)

10/06/2026

Recently, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Chicago Bears chose their locally acclaimed Mariachi Herencia de México to render our national anthem. While the impressive band received a rousing response from the stadium crowd and TV audience, some expressed negative comments. Their main gripe? They claim that Mariachi music wasn’t “American” enough. Obviously, they haven’t been paying attention to the fact that the U.S. is a multicultural society. (See enclosed slide.)
Considering all the commentary, in my view, the best post-event analysis appeared a few days ago, expressed by an online commentor who wisely observed:
“…If anyone is unhappy with the Mexican Mariachi Band performance at the Bears game, but don’t mind when Scottish bagpipes play the anthem, then it’s not about ‘American’ culture; it’s just that they have a bigotry problem”.
On the good news department, judging by the positive responses, communities around the nation are asking for Mariachis to perform in local events. So, naysayers have unwittingly helped create a new TV ad jingle, "Mariachis from Mexico". Seriously folks, anyone who doubts that Mariachi music is as “American” as any other isn’t being honest with themselves. Diversity is so omnipresent in the U.S. that some folks fail to see the value & strength they add to our nation.
Summary. Mexico and its music heritage have been part of America since before the U.S. was born. Why is Mariachi music so popular in the U.S.? It’s a natural, organic thing. That is, in 1848, the U.S. took over northern Mexico (half of Mexico’s sovereignty), along with the existing (original) Spanish-speaking Mexican (Native American) population, its heritage, esp. its vibrant music. Said another way, about half of what happens in the U.S. happens in conquered Mexican sovereign territory (Texas & Southwest).
As for us Spanish Mexican-descent Texans, it’s no surprise that “American” culture has borrowed heavily from our Spanish Mexican heritage, such as the iconic Álamo, the cowboy, ranch, and rodeo ways of life, Mexican cuisine, to name just a few. The result? Modern-day U.S. & Texas official culture itself is mostly borrowed, not just from the Spanish Mexican heritage, but from other minority groups. Also, even the popular saying, “As American as apple pie” is incorrect. The apple is Asian, & the recipe is European. In other words, “American” culture is diversity itself (E Pluribus Unum; Out of many, one). There it is.
"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization." (Mahatma Gandhi).

10/01/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 (Continued). The enclosed slide serves as a timely reminder of actual early Texas (pre-1836) history facts. Yet, Texas State officials and Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) school curriculum refuse to acknowledge.
Walt Whitman’s observation (Re: Précis) can’t state the bidding any clearer. In short, by failing to “give credit where credit is due”, the Texas SBOE is the major enabling force responsible for most of the annoying confusion as regards Spanish Mexican-descent Texans and their connection to the birth of Texas.
Moreover, Mr. Whitman was expressing those beliefs only 35 years after the U.S. subsumed over half of Mexico’s sovereign land and centuries-old resident population (Texas, South Texas, and the entire Southwest). So, he was observing the developing injustice in real time. After witnessing the vicious anti-Spanish Mexican rhetoric (and as a true visionary), he chose to write about it for posterity.
In summary, the wisdom of these four individuals validates Tejano/Tejana ongoing efforts to set the record straight. That is, our objective is to fill in the missing pieces in the Texas panoramic picture puzzle. It is not an attempt to rewrite history.
Even today, most mainstream society members find themselves accepting without question a false narrative comfort zone that can only be described as a “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind’s made up.” mood. Worse, they’re conditioned to believe that our state’s Spanish Mexican founding history is of no consequence. In making a stand, Tejanos & Tejanas’ goal is to burst that misinformation balloon, once and for all. Given today’s provocative social actions climate, timing couldn’t be better.
Finally, we close with several apt bottom lines (Tejano/Tejana Texas History Proverbs).
“Early Texas (pre-1836) history chapters may be written in Spanish, but they nonetheless form the foundation of this great place we call Texas.”
“There’s a reason why everything historically old in Texas is in Spanish.”
“We didn’t cross the border. The border crossed us.” “We came with the real estate.”
“Texas history without Tejanos and Tejanas is like reading a book with no beginning.”
“¡Aquí todavía estamos, y no nos vamos!” (We are still here; we never left; we’re not leaving.)

09/29/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 (Continued). With all due respect, today’s post is a 3-for-1 deal briefly featuring three inextricably linked topics.
Part 1. the shifting U.S.-Mexico borderline and how it affects Spanish Mexican-descent people.
It’s a long way from Rio de Sabinas (Cypresses) (Sabine River) to el Rio Grande. In a classic case of "Be careful of what you ask for, because you may get it", the U.S. ignored recognized 1819 Adams-Onis boundaries between the U.S. and New Spain (Mexico) in 1848. Following self-imposed schedules after the U.S-provoked 1846-48 U.S.-Mexico war, U.S. officials moved the U.S.-Mexico borderline bordering Louisiana, and placed it in the middle of "Old México". Further, the U.S. impulsively moved the Texas southern border from the Nueces River to el Rio Grande.
Question. What did the U.S. expect to happen when they split the Spanish Mexican population in two? In response, the patient, resilient Spanish Mexican and brethren Native American-descent residents on this side of the border stoically adapted to the invisible demarcation line. In short, they acceded to the U.S. national government. However, as any strong-willed society would do, they tightly embraced their unique Spanish Mexican founding culture, language, & heritage and preserve it to this day. Who knew?
Alas, we are not descendants of immigrants. Period. Thus, by ignoring this gigantic human element problem, the U.S. did (& continues to do) a poor job educating their untrained people that the new Spanish-speaking citizens were (are) in every sense of the word, full-fledged “U.S. citizens”, despite their language & heritage attributes. That is, U.S. officials unwisely believed in 1848 that the Spanish Mexican population that came with the real estate could easily be managed forever as a sub-class to serve mainstream society. Big mistake.
Part 2. As regards the contentious Immigration issue versus the human element (plight of Spanish Mexican-descent U.S. citizens), the U.S. created a permanent Mason-Dixon Line and left it at that. Sadly, they’ve been “kicking the can” ever since, all at the expense of Spanish Mexican descendants of the original residents of Mexico’s northern territory (Texas & Southwest). The fix? Immigration reform; the framework is actually already there, in the form of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. Yes, the problem could have been solved that year. Sadly, political pressure stopped it in its tracks, and that intolerant frame of mind still rules today. Yes, the immigration system is broken and needs fixing. The solution? Invite both our next-door neighbors Mexico & Canada to the table. Then, design an ethical accord with win-win economic considerations for all three countries.
Part 3. Here’s a special shout-out to our two next door neighbors that any country would be blessed to have -- México & Canada, with whom we share a large chunk of common, contiguous land in the Continent of America. Keep standing up for your sovereignty, identity, and national dignity, because most of the U.S. population is with you. This too will pass.
Purely as a goodwill gesture toward México & Canada, we close with an appropriate motto: Whether we say MexiCana or CanaMexi, your blossoming sister-like friendship is a union made in heaven, so keep nurturing it. Your developing friendship is most admirable and doing the correct thing for all the correct reasons. God bless you both. (Dios bendiga a los dos). "Que Dieu vous bénisse tous deux."
“Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past - let us accept our own responsibility for the future.” (Pres. John F. Kennedy).

09/24/2026

The enclosed slide proves that indeed, a picture is worth a thousand words. The biggest error that mainstream U.S. & Texas society make is to combine Texas’ (& Southwest) vibrant Mexican ambience with today’s government of the Republic of Mexico. It’s as bad an error in judgement as pretending that Texas and Southwest states are part of New England. Big mistake. Both allegations are incorrect.
The truth is that the U.S. created a nightmare dilemma when in their haste to grab Mexico’s northern territory (over half of Mexico’s sovereignty) is that it split blood-related families in two.
Fully aware of the situation, the U.S. promised the conquered populations of Spanish Mexican and Native American residents (our ancestors) in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that they would be guaranteed to preserve their way of life (heritage). History has proven that those promises were never kept.
Worse, mainstream U.S. historians continue to perpetuate the misinformation by using a political (not a historical) yardstick in recording U.S. and Texas history. Craving for more land, the expansionist and bully-minded U.S. Pres. James K. Polk first provoked a war with our next-door neighbor, Mexico. Then in 1848 absorbed over half of Mexico’s populated land (Texas, South Texas, and the entire Southwest). Most probably as a weak attempt to apologize, the U.S. promised its new Mexican-descent citizens that they would be able to practice and preserve their Spanish-speaking heritage “on this side of the border”. (The same promise they made to the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona. Bluntly, the U.S. is still violating its promises today by disrespecting O’odham sovereignty, as we speak.)
It’s obvious that Spanish Mexican-descent U.S. citizens face hostility every day of their lives, especially here in Texas. The reason? The U.S. has done a poor job educating the public as to the details regarding the human element involved with its absorbing a large population of Spanish-speaking residents in Texas and the Southwest in 1848. (See enclosed slide.)
Summary. As for the question, do we, the Spanish-speaking descendants of the original residents of Texas & Southwest have a right to promote our heritage in the U.S.? Yes, because we are not descendants of immigrants. We’ve always been here.
After all, our ancestral legacy includes ownership of the name Texas (1691) itself, the iconic symbol of the Álamo, Mexican food, the ranch/cowboy/rodeo lifestyle, our ancestors’ legacy of Spanish names of cities, rivers, regions (i.e., Llano Estacado), and so much more. (Ref. enclosed slide.)
Once again, when discussing early Texas history, it’s never repetition; it’s reinforcement. That is, Texas and the Southwest are in New Spain, not New England. There’s no Plymouth Rock off the Texas Coast. (Worth repeating: Texas and the Southwest states aren’t part of the Northeast 13 English Colonies.) Once again, it’s why everything historically old in Texas and Southwest is in Spanish.
“It’s not that the glass is half full or half empty. It’s that the U.S. (& Texas) history glass needs to be filled to the rim by finally adding pre-1836 Texas people, places, & events.”

09/22/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month (Continued). Many years ago, during one of my presentations sharing early Texas history with a variety of audiences, I motioned toward an attendee in his Mexican soldier reenactor uniform, while saying the following, “They were just doing their duty, protecting their country from trespassing armed immigrant invaders from the U.S.”
Afterwards, the young man approached me and wanted to discuss further. It turns out that ever since he had volunteered as a reenactor, event organizers and reenactment scripts implied that Mexican soldiers were the invading enemy in Texas. Truly, it was the other way around. After listening to my presentation, I could tell that I hadn’t told him anything new. I had just validated what he already knew and had just helped him elevate his confidence to continue to perform his Mexican soldado role with honor.
That reminds me of another anecdote when (as a community volunteer) I led reading groups at our local elementary school. The students had gone on a field trip to Misión San Antonio de Valero (AKA Álamo) the previous day. When I asked the group if they had enjoyed the trip, one youngster quickly replied, “Yes, Mr. López, we learned how Mexican General Santa Anna came over here to Texas and attacked us at the Álamo.” Of course, I didn’t have the heart to correct the child. Indeed, even we, descendants of the Spanish Mexican founders of Texas, were all taught that wrong post-1836-48 New England-focused perspective.
It was shortly after (& for the next 10 years after my retirement), that my wife and I committed ourselves to hit the road & share pre-1836 early Texas history with others. Sadly, the misinformation onslaught is so strong that many Mexican-descent Texans still today don’t challenge it.
(Note: There’s an easy fix to fill-in that info gap. For those who wish to relearn their long-ignored early Texas history, join a Texas State Hispanic Genealogy/History group nearest you. They’re Online. (The annual conference is next month, hosted by Los Bexareños Hispanic Genealogy Society in San Antonio.) Work on your family tree. Meet relatives you didn’t know you had. If you haven’t already done so, visit the inspiring Tejano Monument on the South Lawn of the Texas State House in Austin and take your children. The memorial’s large display plaques tell you everything you need to know of our founding Texas origins. Importantly, they will prepare you to defend yourself when discussing the birth of Texas with others.)
Summary. Once again (otra vez), those of us in the business of sharing early Texas history aren’t trying to rewrite Texas history. Rather, we’re just filling in the missing pieces. It’s a timely navigational course correction. Why? Because Mexican-descent Texans have, since 2022, regained their just status as majority population in Texas. For the record, our Spanish Mexican pioneer ancestors invited the first Anglos from the U.S. (Stephen F. (Estéban) Austin and his Old 300 families to willingly immigrate to Mexico.
Swearing allegiance to their adopted country of Mexico, the Anglos rejected their U.S. citizenship. They promised to become loyal Mexican citizens, and to help Mexican families settle north & northeast Texas. Those are facts that even official Texas historians can’t deny but refuse to discuss. Said another way, recording Texas history “Warts and all” is the correct thing to do for all the correct reasons.
“Truth never damages a cause that is just.” (Mahatma Gandhi).

09/17/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 (Continued). After many years of sharing pre-1836 early Texas history with a diverse variety of audiences, it’s obvious that many Texans are mostly ill-informed about Texas’ Spanish Mexican founding families. While most are eager to learn more regarding the many gaps in official Texas history, some don’t want to be confused by the facts (See slide.)
The truth is that long before TV’s fictional “Little House on the Prairie”, “Bonanza”, et al, pioneer Spanish Mexican families had survived & thrived in that rural life setting for generations in Northern Mexico (Southwest); populated land that is now occupied by the U.S. since 1848. (John Francis Bannon).
Hindered by the SBOE-mandated Texas history curriculum we all learned in the classroom, we Spanish Mexican-descent Texans should take great comfort in the fact that though founding Spanish Mexican pioneers are omitted in official Texas history, Texas’ most iconic symbols have all been culturally appropriated (borrowed without credit or attribution) from Tejanas & Tejanos. That goes for the Álamo, Álamo Plaza, ranching, cowboy, and rodeo ways of life, cuisine, friendly come-one-come-all fiesta atmosphere, et al). At minimum, next time you visit San Antonio de Valero (AKA Álamo) ask museum guides to explain the obvious disconnects.
You don’t have to scratch the surface much to realize that "official" Texas history is flawed.
It’s with that purpose in mind that regular pre-1836 postings during the next few weeks will serve to remind Spanish Mexican-descent Texans and their Southwestern brethren not to lose faith. Equally, tourists and locals must finally learn that the Álamo wasn’t the U.S. trespassing immigrant, armed Anglo invaders to defend. Once more (otra vez), we’re not trying to rewrite Texas history. Rather, we’re filling in the missing pieces of the panoramic puzzle of this great place we call Texas.
(Note 1: Even Sam Houston knew that the Presidio el Álamo had long been absorbed by the local Bexareños community & was no longer sustainable as a military structure. He gave William Travis direct orders to leave San Antonio. Travis stubbornly refused and needlessly caused his and the death of his armed U.S. Anglo immigrant trespassers.)
(Note 2: Houston gave James Fannin the same direct orders to leavc Goliad. Fannin, known as a weak, indecisive leader, likewise ignored his superior officer; causing his own death and that of his men. Yet, that’s another myth to discuss another day.)
Bottom Line. Now that Mexican-descent Texans have regained majority population status (since 2022) in a state founded by our Spanish Mexican (Native American) pioneers, it’s the latest opportunity for the architects of official Texas history to come clean. That is, “Tell it like it is” as regards the many inconvenient truths purposefully embedded in the state-mandated Texas history version since 1848. Correcting the record now is doing the correct thing for all the correct reasons. “There’s nothing more deceptive than obvious facts.” (Arthur Conal Doyle).

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