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Chicano! Taking Back the Schools - Coggle Diagram
Chicano! Taking Back the Schools
Discrimination
Students were split into two groups at school, typically by IQ
One group is expected to go to college and the other is expected to go into vocational areas
Mexican students wanted better education
They were branded subversives and were threatened
Mexican students experienced prejudice amongst peers
One was made fun of for having tacos for her lunch. She felt ashamed and wanted to have cologne sandwiches instead.
Another was ashamed for being Mexican and feeling embarrassed that his father could not understand English. He had to translate for him a lot of the times.
Actions Taken
Massive walkout to shut down school; 4,000 students walked out of 5 Eastside High School
At 9am, the signal "Blow out" was said for everyone to walk out of the school
Mexican students were chanting "Chicano Power" and "We demand change"
Brown Beret Organization got involved
They represented security; consisted of young Chicano students in college
Aware that Chicanos weren't benefitting from the American Society; they advocated for direct action and were often confrontational
Bobby Kennedy and parents of the students supported them
Parents asked to meet with school officials yet were denied
Later, the parents were finally able to meet with them. The School Board aimed to implement students' demands
Surveys were done to gather information
They demanded Mexican-American history courses, end to corporal punishments, hire more Mexican-American teachers and counselors.
Setbacks
Police involvement
They aimed to maintain order
Eventually began running after students; they clubbed, abused, and jailed them
Mexican-American students faced problems in school
Discipline was unfair, they have no college advisement, they were being pushed aside
School authorities involvement
They pressured striking students
Striking students received calls from principals that they were going to be suspended, expelled, or even have their scholarships for colleges taken away from them
Reactions
Majority of Garfield High School students did not condone this method
They were embarrassed at how loud, rude, and disrespectful they were being towards people
Newspapers accused the Brown Berets
They believed they were outsiders and troublemakers
LAPD arrested 13 Chicano leaders at 2 in the morning
They were indicted on conspiracy charges and would spend 66 years in prison if they were convicted
History
1946 Mendes v. Westminster School District
Segregation against Mexican-American children is unlawful
Brown v. Board of Education
This declared segregated schools unconstitutional throughout the United States
Reinstatement for Sal Castro
Chicano Community heavily supported him
They attended meetings and occupied the room by sleeping there to pressure them.