Mario G. Obledo
Encyclopedia
Mario Guerra Obledo was an American civil rights
leader. He was called the "Godfather of the Latino Movement" in the United States, credited with establishing numerous civic institutions and bringing Latino interests into the center of the U.S. political arena. He also served as California
's Secretary of Health and Welfare
from 1975 to 1982.
Obledo was born in San Antonio, Texas
. His parents were Mexican immigrants and he was one of 12 children. He earned a pharmacy
degree from the University of Texas at Austin
in 1957 and a law degree from St. Mary's University
in San Antonio in 1960. For three years he was a Texas assistant attorney general.
In 1967, Obledo was a co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
(MALDEF), and was the organization's first general counsel. In 1970, facing pressure from the Ford Foundation
, MALDEF's most important funding source, due to the organization's perceived "militant" positions, MALDEF moved its headquarters from San Antonio to San Francisco, California
, and Obledo replaced Pete Tijerina as executive director. Obledo served in that position until 1973, pursuing a strategy of involving MALDEF in employment and language rights litigation and conceiving the organization's role as a "law firm for the Latino community."
After MALDEF, Obledo taught at Harvard Law School
, where he was working in 1974 when California's newly elected governor Jerry Brown
asked him for assistance in recruiting potential cabinet officers. Brown then offered Obledo the position of health and welfare secretary, making him at that time California's highest ranking Mexican American
official. Obledo served in that position from 1975 until 1982, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Obledo was also a co-founder of the Hispanic National Bar Association
and the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, and an early leader of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. He was president of the League of United Latin American Citizens
(LULAC) in the mid-1980s, and chairman of the National Rainbow Coalition
from 1988 to 1993.
After an extended period outside the public spotlight, Obledo re-emerged as a public activist in the late 1990s, and was noted, among other activities, for protesting against anti-immigrant advertising, and promoting a boycott of the Taco Bell chihuahua
for its stereotypical Mexican accent.
President William J. Clinton presented Obledo with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1998, describing him as having "created a powerful chorus for justice and equality." In May 2010, Obledo received an honorary
doctor of laws degree from California State University, Sacramento
. Obledo died on August 18, 2010 in Sacramento
, California, following a heart attack, at the age of 78.
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
leader. He was called the "Godfather of the Latino Movement" in the United States, credited with establishing numerous civic institutions and bringing Latino interests into the center of the U.S. political arena. He also served as California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Secretary of Health and Welfare
California Health and Human Services Agency
The California Health and Human Services Agency is the state agency tasked with administration and oversight of "state and federal programs for health care, social services, public assistance and rehabilitation" in the U.S. state of California. The agency is headed by the Secretary of the...
from 1975 to 1982.
Obledo was born in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. His parents were Mexican immigrants and he was one of 12 children. He earned a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
degree from the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
in 1957 and a law degree from St. Mary's University
St. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
in San Antonio in 1960. For three years he was a Texas assistant attorney general.
In 1967, Obledo was a co-founder of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a national non-profit civil rights organization formed in 1968 to protect the rights of Latinos in the United States...
(MALDEF), and was the organization's first general counsel. In 1970, facing pressure from the Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
, MALDEF's most important funding source, due to the organization's perceived "militant" positions, MALDEF moved its headquarters from San Antonio to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, and Obledo replaced Pete Tijerina as executive director. Obledo served in that position until 1973, pursuing a strategy of involving MALDEF in employment and language rights litigation and conceiving the organization's role as a "law firm for the Latino community."
After MALDEF, Obledo taught at Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, where he was working in 1974 when California's newly elected governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
asked him for assistance in recruiting potential cabinet officers. Brown then offered Obledo the position of health and welfare secretary, making him at that time California's highest ranking Mexican American
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
official. Obledo served in that position from 1975 until 1982, when he resigned to make an unsuccessful run for the Democratic nomination for governor.
Obledo was also a co-founder of the Hispanic National Bar Association
Hispanic National Bar Association
The Hispanic National Bar Association is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing Hispanics in the legal profession, including attorneys, judges, law professors, legal assistant and paralegals, and law students in the United States and its territories.The current National President and...
and the National Coalition of Hispanic Organizations, and an early leader of the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project. He was president of the League of United Latin American Citizens
League of United Latin American Citizens
The League of United Latin American Citizens was created to combat the discrimination that Hispanics face in the United States. Established February 17, 1929 in Corpus Christi, Texas, LULAC was a consolidation of smaller, like-minded civil rights groups already in existence...
(LULAC) in the mid-1980s, and chairman of the National Rainbow Coalition
Rainbow/PUSH
Rainbow/PUSH is a non-profit organization formed as a merger of two non-profit organizations — Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow Coalition — founded by Jesse Jackson. The organizations pursue social justice, civil rights and political activism.In December 1971, Jackson resigned from...
from 1988 to 1993.
After an extended period outside the public spotlight, Obledo re-emerged as a public activist in the late 1990s, and was noted, among other activities, for protesting against anti-immigrant advertising, and promoting a boycott of the Taco Bell chihuahua
Taco Bell chihuahua
Gidget "The Taco Bell chihuahua" Chipperton was a popular advertising figure and mascot, voiced by Carlos Alazraqui, and developed by TBWA and used by Taco Bell, a division of Louisville, Kentucky -based Yum! Brands. The Chihuahua is a breed commonly associated with Mexico, as are the tacos the...
for its stereotypical Mexican accent.
President William J. Clinton presented Obledo with the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
in 1998, describing him as having "created a powerful chorus for justice and equality." In May 2010, Obledo received an honorary
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
doctor of laws degree from California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento
California State University, Sacramento, popularly known as Sacramento State, is a public university located in the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the California State University system...
. Obledo died on August 18, 2010 in Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California, following a heart attack, at the age of 78.