The political and social impact that Albert A. Peña Jr. had on the lives of Mexican Americans, and later Chicanos, is by all counts immeasurable. However, in part because Chicano biography has traditionally been a neglected research area among academics generally and Chicano Studies scholars specifically, his life’s work has not featured prominently in any biographical work to date, making this volume the first of its kind. It provides a richly detailed documentation of Peña’s life and career, from blue collar worker to judge and essay writer, spanning nearly ninety years. Readers will find that at the heart of his story is a focus on grassroots organizing and politics, sharing leadership, and a commitment to social justice.

José Angel Gutiérrez is a Professor Emeritus at University of Texas at Arlington, where he founded the Center for Mexican American Studies. He is the author or coauthor of fourteen books, the most recent being The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education, which he coauthored with his wife Natalia Verjat Gutiérrez.

— 2018 CHOICE Magazine Outstanding Academic Title

— 2018 International Latino Book Awards—Best Biography