Soldier for Equality

Written by Duncan Tonatiuh

A soldier battles prejudice and fights for civil rights after World War I.

4.2 Goodreads · 528 ratings

40 pages· 2,302 words· Est. 18 min read-aloud· 860L

$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

José de la Luz Sáenz, a Mexican American soldier, faces discrimination even as he serves in World War I. Despite his vital role in military intelligence, his contributions go unrecognized. Returning home, Luz joins fellow veterans to form the League of United Latin American Citizens, championing civil rights. Can one man's fight for justice ignite change for his community?

From the publisher

Award-winning author Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life the story of a Mexican-American war hero Jos. de la Luz S.enz (1888-1953)–or Luz–believed in fighting for what was right. Although he was born in the United States, he and his family experienced prejudice because of their Mexican heritage. When World War I broke out, Luz volunteered to join the fight. Because of his ability to quickly learn languages, he became part of the Intelligence Office in Europe. However, despite his hard work and intellect, Luz often didn’t receive credit for his contributions. Upon his return to the US, he joined other Mexican-Americans whom he had met in the army to fight for equality. His contribution, along with others, ultimately led to the creation of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which is the oldest Latino civil rights organization. Soldier for Equality is based in part on Luz’s diary during the war. It includes a biography of Luz’s later years, an author’s note, a timeline, a bibliography, and an index.