MACRI Talk – The Bricks before Brown v. Board of Education

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. In the year of this milestone, we are called to reflect: What does the United States semiquincentennial mean to Mexican Americans? How have Mexican Americans shaped this country, and what do we want to see for our communities in the future?

Join us as we continue our series of special MACRI Talks for America 250, the national commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. In this series, we highlight the ways Mexican Americans have been essential threads to the national fabric. 

Our July America 250 MACRI Talk features Dr. Marisela Martinez-Cola, who will present The Bricks before Brown v. Board of Education. This talk will explore the school desegregation court cases that preceded Brown v. Board of Education (1954), and in particular, the cases involving Mexican American, Native American, and Chinese American families. 

🗓 Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 6 PM – 7 PM Central Time

👀 OJO! This is a virtual event. The talk will livestream via Facebook at https://bit.ly/FB-MACRI and YouTube at https://bit.ly/YT-MACRI

RSVP to receive the links for the talk!

⭐️This program is made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.⭐️

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About our guest

Dr. Martinez-Cola is a proud Chicana, daughter of an immigrant, and first-generation scholar. She was born and raised in Battle Creek, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and African American studies. She went on to earn her law degree at Loyola University Chicago School of Law. While she loved studying law, the practice of law was unfulfilling. After only a year in law, she switched career paths and served as director of multicultural affairs at a variety of institutions around the country. After nearly 10 years in student affairs, she wanted to transition to academic affairs. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in sociology at Emory University. Following her graduation, she accepted a position at Utah State University and worked there for three years before joining Morehouse College. Dr. Martinez-Cola currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Social Justice Research and Policy in the Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership. In this role, she supports her colleagues’ research and writing and engages in meaningful public policy conversations. Dr. Martinez-Cola is the author of The Bricks Before Brown: The Chinese American, Native American, and Mexican Americans’ Struggle for Educational Equality.

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MACRI’s programs are funded in part by the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture, Bexar County, the Mellon Foundation, the John L. Santikos Charitable Foundation Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation, Spurs Give, and individual donors like you! Gracias!

As always, views and ideas shared by presenters do not necessarily reflect those of the MACRI, its staff, board, or funders.