Join us for a charla (community discussion) with authors Denise Gomez and Dr. Jesús Jesse Esparza as they share their research for the forthcoming book The Barrio and the Badge: A History of Latinos and Law Enforcement in Houston. In this program, Dr. Esparza will lead a conversation with Denise about her chapter and the stories behind it. 

Denise’s chapter, “La Polimigra: Policing and Caging Undocumented Latino Immigrants in Houston,” explores the city’s role in shaping the U.S. deportation system and the deep, lasting impact on undocumented communities. Together, we’ll reflect on this history and its connections to the present. A Q&A session will invite participants to share thoughts, questions, and experiences. You’ll also have the chance to view a special selection of historical materials from the HHRC archival collections, curated by Dr. Esparza and Denise. They’ll guide us through these items, sharing the history and context. 

Featured Speakers: 

• Denise Gomez, Author, Public Historian, Local Educator 

• Jesús Jesse Esparza, Ph. D., Author, Associate Professor of History, and Interim Chair for the Department of History, Geography & General Studies at Texas Southern University 

This event will take place at the Julia Ideson Building, Meldrum Room on Saturday, November 15, at 1pm. 

This event is free and open to the public. Parking in the garage under the Central Library is free. Registration is encouraged, but not required.  

Image: Protest poster by Alfonso Vasquez, denouncing the ruling of the Houston Police Department officers involved in the 1977 drowning homicide of Joe Campos Torres.  

Alfonso Vazquez Collection; MSS 0093; box 1; folder 12; Houston History Research Center, Houston Public Library. 

About Denise Gomez: Denise Gomez is an educator based in Houston. She has written articles for Houston History Magazine and also served as an oral history intern there. She earned a BA in History from the University of Houston and an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas. She has presented research on Latina activists in Houston, volunteered with various organizations to document Houston’s history, and led several oral history projects.  

About Dr. Jesse Esparza: Jesus Jesse Esparza is an Associate Professor of History at Texas Southern University in Houston. His expertise focuses on the history of Latinos in the United States, particularly on civil rights activism. He authored Raza Schools: The Fight for Latino Educational Autonomy in a West Texas Borderlands Town (OU Press, 2023), which received three book awards: the 2024 Outstanding Book Award from the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, the 2024 Tejas Foco Nonfiction Book Award from the National Association of Chicana and Chicanos Studies, and the 2025 Book of the Year Award from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.  

About The Barrio and the Badge: A History of Latinos and Law Enforcement in Houston: This manuscript examines the changing relationship between the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Latino community, highlighting a wide range of experiences that include both conflict and cooperation. Drawing on oral histories, personal collections, and extensive archival research, this work argues that HPD's historical policies and practices allowed police violence against Latinos to continue. At the same time, these policies also inspired the community to interact with the police department in various ways, such as protesting, engaging with the courts, and even joining the force. The book also aims to document activism within the department that helped sustain lasting changes achieved by Latinos, demonstrating that their encounters with law enforcement are diverse and establishing Houston as an important location for police-community relations. 

This public program is presented in support of Raquel Natalicchio's exhibit at HPL, Al Otro Lado | The Other Side. This exhibition will be on view June 14, 2025–February 28, 2026 at the Houston Public Library's Dr. James and Betty Key Map Room in the Julia Ideson Building and is free and open to the public during regular hours. 

To learn more about the exhibit and upcoming related programs, visit: https://houstonlibrary.org/blogs/exhibits/exhibits/al-otro-lado

At the heart of Al Otro Lado/The Other Side lies the convergence of individual stories and geographical context. This exhibition features the work of photojournalist Raquel Natalicchio, focusing on her portraits and interviews of people who have migrated to the United States. Their personal narratives, highlighting their diverse experiences and journeys, are paired with historical maps highlighting regions along the U.S.-Mexico border, sourced from the Houston History Research Center (HHRC). These maps not only chart physical landscapes but also document the history leading up to the establishment of the border and the socio-political complexities surrounding immigration.