Texas' Board of Education gave its final approval for the creation of a Mexican-American studies course on Friday, confirming a preliminary decision from earlier this week.

But the vote wasn't without fireworks, as the five Democrats on the 15-member board attempted but failed to change the name of the course.

On Wednesday, a last-minute amendment from board member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, had removed "Mexican-American" from the course title, changing the name to "Ethnic Studies: An Overview of Americans of Mexican Descent."

"I don't subscribe to hyphenated Americanism," Bradley said during Wednesday's meeting.

As reported by the Austin American-Stateman's Julie Chang, who covered Friday's meeting, board member Ruben Cortez, D-Brownsville, tried to reverse Bradley's amendment and label the course "Mexican-American studies."

Cortez's effort failed on a party-line vote, with the board's five Democrats voting in favor of the change and nine of 10 Republican members voting against it; the board's chair, Donna Bahorich, R-Houston, abstained.

The @txsboe has officially approved creating a Mexican-American studies course statewide. A few minutes ago, BM Ruben Cortez tried to get the name changed back to Mexican-American studies but it failed with all 5 Dems voting for it, 9 Repubs voting against it. #txlege #txed https://t.co/tke50ro003 — Julie Chang (@JulieChang1) April 13, 2018

Chair Donna Bahorich, R-Houston, abstained. She now says, "The board is always seeking ways to better support our student. We want to send out love to all our students." #txlege #txed https://t.co/4vnHB2OLMs — Julie Chang (@JulieChang1) April 13, 2018

BM Marisa Perez-Diaz, D-Converse, is visibly upset: "I appreciate your words, but our actions today didn’t ring true to that. My colleagues around this board room identified me. My identity is my own and I am to identify myself." #txed #txlege https://t.co/4vnHB2OLMs — Julie Chang (@JulieChang1) April 13, 2018

Board member Marisa Perez-Diaz, D-Converse, issued a news release Friday afternoon saying that "today was not a victory, but a slap in the face."

"While I appreciate the steps that the Board of Education has taken to approve ethnic-specific courses of study, it did not come without its insults," the release continued. "Today, 9 of my 14 colleagues told me how they believe I should identify: 'American of Mexican Descent.' What does that mean? How do any of them expect this title to resonate with any of our scholars who identify as Mexican American? More importantly, who do any of them think they are to tell me how I should identify?"

The course won't be required for students across the state. Instead, it will be among a raft of state-approved courses, the selection of which is left up to local districts and schools.