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Chicano Movement: Prejudice and Pride Taking Back the Schools - Coggle…
Chicano Movement:
Prejudice and Pride
Taking Back the Schools
Government Reactions
Bobby Kennedy provided support to the demands of students who were protesting the school system, and supported the farmers who were unjustly arrested. Recommended the Sherif and District Attorney read the constitution during the recess.
An Attorney General began supporting and standing up to the unjust treatment the Latino community has been facing in education and labor.
The FBI had agents with the Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) tacking pictures, gathering information, and going undercover within the movements.
Changed the actions/mindset of the movement because they are having to defend themselves and their leaders rather than pushing for social justice.
How much has local and federal involvement shifted, if any, the original intentions of todays protests?
Arrested the "LA 13" for conspiring to conduct a misdemeanor. Charges were not dropped until 2 years after the arrest.
The community recognized the arrest was an attempt to stop the movement and came to their defense. It was an act of political harassment, attack on the Mexican-American community, and not supporting the first amendment.
Taking Action
Students were organized in East Los Angelas with a list of demands for the school, walked out, and boycotted schools for their education.
Eventually lead to meetings with parents, administrators, and met many of the students demands. Changed the demographics of the school's professional body, and the future of students.
All across the country Chicano's began to take ownership of their future. Additionally, 100 schools across 10 states walked out in the future.
Individuals engaged in anti-war protests because Latinos were 6% of the population and made up 20% of the Vietnam casualties.
After an "alleged" complaint of a stolen six pack, police showed up to a peaceful protest with riot gear, teargas, and violently broke up the protest.
Police used violence during this protest, the high schoolers protest, and where not held accountable. Similar to today.
Chavez ended the Bracero Program, stood strike for a union, pilgrimaged to Sacramento, and debated with growers to negotiate a farmers union.
It would take many more years to establish higher wages, safer working conditions, and the end of child labor. However, the march created the first farm worker contracts in American history.
Moving to Politics
Willie Velasquez organized thousands of voter registration drives across the South West.
Chicano neighborhoods were divided into pieces and they were never able to win votes due to the electoral system.
Began documenting abuses and filing voting right lawsuits. 85 cases and they never lost.The violations were clear because the law was obvious.
The electoral system began changing, people began participating and being elected.
La Raza Unida: Political party which encouraged Mexican-Americans (80% of population) to run candidates in the elections.
The April 1970 elections were a major victory for Chicanos. La Raza Unida controlled the school board, city government, and county government.
Assimilation
Students were punished for speaking their own language, and it psychologically affected them because the language was what their parents and ancestors spoke.
Students felt ashamed of their parents, heritage, and ancestry. Demonstrates English elitism and reminds me of the schools established in Alaskan villages.
Politicians like Henry B. Gonzalez bought into an idea of America as the melting pot scenario in which individuals should give up their culture and hold fast to American values.
Criticized the actions, opinions, and voices of Chicano activists as being a campaign of hatred.
Most Mexican-American leaders came from middle class, had light skin, and babies were praised for having lighter skin and blue eyes. Cesar Chavez represented the people.
Rather than relying on Mexican American leaders, more people began to stand up and challenge the system.
Discrimination
Latino students did not receive the same educational support as white kids and were encouraged into vocational training.
There is still a major gap between education and socioeconomic status. Are we supporting children today, or continuing to support the wealthy?
About half a million Mexicans and American born children were deported to Mexico during the Great Depression. People believed the depression was caused by and they were out of work because of Mexicans.
Families were rounded and split up and people were being deported to create more jobs. Reminds me of the events with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and building a wall from the Trump Administration.
Latinos were seen as people who could be taken advantage of with work, their education, and were often tracked into and worked for poor wages.
They are also taken advantage by big corporations today with minimum wage jobs and having to work more than one job.