Photogallery: American GI Forum

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On March 26, 1948, Dr. Garcia called for a meeting to form a new organization for Mexican-Americans. They chose the name "American GI Forum" to emphasize that they were just as American as anyone else. The GI Forum would become Dr. Garcia's vehicle for assisting veterans first, then for helping all Mexican-Americans. This is the earliest photo of those who organized the American GI Forum.

Often a GI Forum organizational meeting would be arranged to take place at a Virgin of Guadalupe Catholic Church, the center of activity in many small South Texas towns. Individual dues to join were twenty-five cents per year.

American GI Forum meetings, such as the one announced here to protest the Felix Longoria incident, helped to spread the message of the organization beyond South Texas.

Another early goal for the GI Forum was to encourage Mexican-American families to keep their children in school. Back to School rallies, like the one promoted in this flyer, were directed at the many Mexican-American families which utilized their children in harvesting crops. These children would often drop out of school completely.

The GI Forum grew rapidly across the Southwest as Mexican-Americans began to compare conditions in their own communities.

This GI Forum Chapter represented the rural community of Eagle Pass, Texas.

Within the GI Forum, there were a number of women who would play an important role in the organization's success. In the early years, a woman would speak up at public meetings to protest issues, when her husband could not speak for fear of losing his job.

After World War II, Texas was one of a few states that required a $1.75 poll tax to be paid before voting. Mexican-American families with an average weekly income of nineteen dollars were reluctant to pay the tax, and did not participate in the process. The GI Forum would hold poll tax drives to raise money to assist in paying the tax. Eventually, candidates would see them as a political force to reckon with.

Patriotism to the United States, shown by GI Forum members, assisted the group in avoiding the "Red scare" communist investigations other civil rights organizations faced during the 1950's.

American GI Forum meetings were social events for the Mexican-American community. There are numerous stories of couples meeting, then marrying due to their initial involvement in the GI Forum.

Preparing for a re-election bid in 1953, Senator Lyndon Johnson spoke before a Texas State Convention of the American GI Forum. The attendance of a prominent politician to a GI Forum meeting was the turning point for the organization.

The GI Forum began holding national conventions in 1954. While the keynote speaker might be political, the social highlight was the crowning of the GI Forum queen.

GI Forum Convention delegates would speak and vote on issues important to Mexican-Americans. When the time came for election of the national officers, all members - including the youth - were allowed an equal vote.

American GI Forum members would often take a collection or hold a fundraiser to assist veterans and families living in their communities.