Sylvia Mendez, an eight-year-old girl of Mexican-Puerto Rican heritage, played an instrumental role in the "Mendez vs. Westminster" case, the landmark desegregation case of 1946. Mendez grew up during a time when most schools were segregated. In the case of California, Hispanics were not allowed to attend schools that were designated for "Whites" only and were sent to so-called "Mexican schools. " Although an American citizen who spoke perfect English, Mendez was denied enrollment to a "Whites" only school, an event which prompted her parents to take action, organise various sectors of the Hispanic community and file a lawsuit in the local federal court. The success of their actions would eventually bring an end to the era of segregated education.