© 2026 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Fight for Equal Schooling in Mendez v. Westminster

Season 1 Episode 3 | 3m 23s

After Sylvia Mendez was denied school enrollment due to her darker skin, her family – and other Mexican families who had faced the same discrimination – brought a lawsuit against the Westminster School District of Orange County, California. Represented by civil rights attorney David Marcus, they won the case, which established a crucial precedent for the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case.

Funding for American Historia is provided, in part, by PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The WNET Group’s Chasing the Dream initiative, the Ford Foundation/JustFilms, and Seton J. Melvin.
Extras
Promo: 250 Years of Americana
The beloved Mystery! series will debut its last season starting on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 9/8c.
Explore the life and legacy of notable Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois.
See how a Wisconsin dairy farm turns cow manure into an energy source.
Travel to Nebraska where artists find rural life peaceful and inspiring to their creative work.
Discover how Farm Stay vacations are giving city kids a chance to discover rural America.
On Farm to Fork, fun with fungi and a special recipe for pasta.
It’s like a visit to Holland! Discover an Oregon farm growing acres and acres of bright tulips.
Saving America’s rural heritage one board at a time. Meet Pennsylvania’s “barn saver.”
We’ll take you to Louisiana where scientists are working to solve the mystery of what’s killing bees
Latest Episodes
Join John Leguizamo as he learns how Latinos have shaped modern America.
Explore how Latino DNA has shaped the identity of the U.S. since before her inception.
Join John Leguizamo as he examines the ancient civilizations of pre-Columbian America.