Martinez, Benny; Martinez, Loretta (father/daughter). Discovery Green Park, 2009-12-08T14:30:00

File — Interview-ID: MBY006033

Interview Description

Loretta interviews her father, Benny, about his life if social service and his experience with civil rights for the Hispanic community.

Facilitator Subject Log

10:00 Benny remembers a man who had earned a medal of honor in war and was refused a funeral service. The proprietor said, "I don't want to offend my white clientele. "

17:00 Benny remembers applying for a job as a truck driver and being denied because he was Mexican American. He started boycotting the bread from the company, and they soon started hiring everyone.

18:45 Counselors at the VA told Benny that they could only pay for him to go to school for nursing and now law (which is what he wanted). They didn't think he would succeed in law school.

33:08 Benny remembers fighting to have a school named after his brother, Raul, who was the first Mexican-American police officer in Houston. He got a petition going, and it was unanimously decided to be named after Raul.

40:39 Benny believes education is the road to equality.