THE CHICANO MOVEMENT

THE CHICANO MOVEMENT Andrew Vong, Period 2, 12/3/2020, Ms. Smith

THE CHICANO MOVEMENT

OVERVIEW

Throughout the history of the United States, Mexican-Americans have been discriminated against, and treated unequally. The Chicano Movement started in the 1960s and ended in the 1970's and strived to address the problems involving discrimination against Mexican-Americans and Chicanos, worker rights, land grants and land restoration, as well as a lackluster education. Within the movement there are key figures such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, the UFW, the United States government, the Brown Berets, and most importantly those that were willing to advocate for themselves during the movement.

THE PROBLEM

Mexican-American discrimination was seen on a daily basis before and during the Chicano Movement, discrimination was shown in courts, restaurants, and were limited from ‘public’ facilities. Mexican-Americans who found a career within farming/agriculture were not receiving benefits, in addition to not being paid enough. In addition to this, education for the Chicano population was extremely limited, as it was not equivalent to other student’s educations, there were improper resources, and could be seen as just assimilation to the ‘American Belief’.

Sources Cited: “The Chicano Movement.” Arcgis.com, www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=9bab5f6a843748d0bc213279a2f2e84a.

Mendoza, Jynessa. The Chicano/a Fight for Equality through Education, CSU Stanislaus, www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/groups/University%20Honors%20Program/conference/05_mendoza_jynessa.pdf.

THE TACTICS

The overall strategy of the Chicano movement was to empower and protest, for those involved with the Chicano movement, those being Mexican-Americans and their allies. Those involved with the movement defied against those that supported the idea of condoning discrimination. Methods and tactics of protests were strikes, boycotts, marches, rallies, and last speeches. Specific events that made major changes was the Delano Grape Boycott, which was a mass organized boycott, that strike against buying any grape products within California unless the demands to raise worker’s pay and working conditions were met. In order to stay organized, participants of the Chicano Movement were educated through the speeches of influential leaders, such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Philip Vera Cruz, these leaders were later able to create the United Farmers Workers (Union/UFW). UFW was able to alter farm labor activism, and motivate others to take a stand to make a greater change for all, not just during the Chicano movement but for the future.

Sources: “Chicano Movement.” Educating Change: Chicano, CIS- STA Program, 2005, www.brown.edu/Research/Coachella/chicano.html.

The Chicano Moratorium: Why 30,000 People Marched Through East LA in 1970, FUSION, 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpj9Man7L1U&ab_channel=FUSION.

ACCOMPLISHMENT TIMELINE

- In 1962 Cesar Chavez has declared that the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee is an independent organization.

In 1965 the National Farm Workers Association and Organizing Committee have put into process the national table grape boycott.
On April 11th, 1996 the Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association begin a march starting at Delano to the California Capitol this was one of the first organized rallies of the Chicano movement.
In 1967 around 250 students represent seven Los Angeles colleges/universities in order to form the United Mexican American Students also known as UMAS.
1968 to respond to violent hold backs on Farm workers, Cesar starts a 25 day fast, in order to motivate the farm workers to keep a non-violent movement.
1969 a conference is held at Santa Barbara where the Chicano Coordinating Council plans for curricular changes, and different types of services to Chicano students.
Another organization that takes a more militant approach called the Brown Berets in 1969 follow inspiration from the Black Panthers, and input a program that deals with food, housing, unemployment, and education within multiple Spanish speaking communities.
Later on in the future there are many more school, and product boycotts, in order to improve conditions of each subject. The movement is very successful in achieving their goals, and each organization grows stronger in order to provide a better community for Chicanos, and Mexican-Americans.

The United States took action on these events, it is a known fact that the Chicano Movement was also during the Civils Right movement, these abolishment of segregation, and the reduction of segregation changed how Mexican-Americans and Chicanos were treated. The United States was able to make a change, and alter the current condition of each American citizen.

CESAR CHAVEZ QUOTE

A quote that illustrates a great motivation to strive towards completing the goals of the Chicano Movement which comes directly from one of the major leaders, Cesar Chavez is, “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” It is clear to see that the Chicano movement is an effort that everyone contributes in, all that are involved are inspired to carry on the work of others, and transform communities by providing support through helping the aspirations of others. The movement is not created in order for one person to take a stand, but for a community to rise to advocate and leave behind a legacy that will last for generations. Cesar Chavez has shown that this quote is effective, as the many boycotts, marches, would be valueless without the support of a community. This quote unites the Chicano Movement community together, and encourages the use of cooperation with each other, in order to achieve a singular goal. It also allows for everyone to be on the same page, and stay organized and also encourages the use of teamwork, cooperation, and effective planning.

Sources Cited: Chavez, Cesar. “Cesar Chavez Foundation.” Who We Are, Cesar Chavez Foundation, 2016, chavezfoundation.org/who-we-are/.

DOLORES HUERTA QUOTE

One quote that truly showed the power of the Chicano movement, and it’s effectiveness was said by an Chicano movement activists, that was essential to achieving the goals of the movement was by Dolores Huerta, which said, “When you have a conflict, that means that there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict. And when you have a conflict, then it's an educational process to try to resolve the conflict. And to resolve that, you have to get people on both sides of the conflict involved so that they can dialogue." The justification for the quote is to illustrate that in order to create change when there is conflict, two sides of the party must come together in order to resolve issues, and compromise to cease the conflict, and come to a solution that both parties can agree upon. Through this quote Huerta is able to come to the audience and allow them to know the importance of cooperation, without it each side will be left with the same problems they begin with, and without any solution. This quote brings light to any argument, in order to settle any argument you must come together with the other party, and discuss. The Chicano Movement is one prime example as those that believed were being treated unequally came together, and expressed their concern to the public, those being public figures in the government, normal citizens, organization and a greater audience. If the Chicano Movement had never happened, there would be no advocating for Mexican-Americans and Chicanos, which as a result would lead to a smaller development of more equal rights.

Sources: Huerta, Dolores. Wisdom Watch: Dolores Huerta, NPR, 15 Aug. 2007, 12:00PM, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12802672.

MY OPINION

I believe that the Chicano Movement was very effective in reaching their goal. Their varieties of using different methods of protests, were very effective and each had their own ways of conveying their points. In the end the Chicano Movement can be seen as a movement that had conveyed their opinions with success, as many of those that were involved with the movement were desiccated, motivated, and were willing to advocate not only for themselves but for each other.

IMPACTS OF TODAY

Today we are faced with many organizations, groups of people, rallies that express their emotions on a certain subject. One of these movements would be Black Lives Matter Movement. This movement brings together people that support the idea of greater rights for African Americans, and more fair treatments which are unbiased by skin color. It can be seen that the Chicano Movement has a significant connection to Black Lives Matter (BLM). The era of the Civil Rights Movement, and the Chicano Movement brought different varieties of activism. That being sit-ins, marches, speeches, boycotts, peaceful protests, and much more. These types of activism can still be seen today. These methods are still used today because they are effective, and people know the history behind these types of protests. The current BLM protests, consists of peaceful protests, marches, speeches, and many other types of activism. They are also used all around the world, and have shown their efficiency throughout social media, and important times of history.

Source Sources Cited: Thomsen, Ian, and Ian Thomsen. “How Do Today's Black Lives Matter Protests Compare to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s?” News Northeastern How Do Today's Black Lives Matter Protests Compare to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s Comments, Northeastern University, 4 June 2020, news.northeastern.edu/2020/06/04/how-do-todays-black-lives-matter-protests-compare-to-the-civil-rights-movement-of-the-1960s/.

CITATIONS AND SOURCES

Sources Cited: “The Chicano Movement.” Arcgis.com, www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=9bab5f6a843748d0bc213279a2f2e84a.

Mendoza, Jynessa. The Chicano/a Fight for Equality through Education, CSU Stanislaus, www.csustan.edu/sites/default/files/groups/University%20Honors%20Program/conference/05_mendoza_jynessa.pdf.

“Chicano Movement.” Educating Change: Chicano, CIS- STA Program, 2005, www.brown.edu/Research/Coachella/chicano.html.

The Chicano Moratorium: Why 30,000 People Marched Through East LA in 1970, FUSION, 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpj9Man7L1U&ab_channel=FUSION.

Chavez, Cesar. “Cesar Chavez Foundation.” Who We Are, Cesar Chavez Foundation, 2016, chavezfoundation.org/who-we-are/.

Huerta, Dolores. Wisdom Watch: Dolores Huerta, NPR, 15 Aug. 2007, 12:00PM, www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12802672.

Thomsen, Ian, and Ian Thomsen. “How Do Today's Black Lives Matter Protests Compare to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s?” News Northeastern How Do Today's Black Lives Matter Protests Compare to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s Comments, Northeastern University, 4 June 2020, news.northeastern.edu/2020/06/04/how-do-todays-black-lives-matter-protests-compare-to-the-civil-rights-movement-of-the-1960s/.

Castaneda, Oscar. “Timeline Movimiento from 1960-1985.” Timeline: Movimiento from 1960-1985 - Seattle Civil Rights and Labor History Project, depts.washington.edu/civilr/mecha_timeline.htm.

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