Freedom Of Chicanos : The History They Skipped Over

From 1848-1928 there were 232 people of Mexican descent who died from mob violence or lynchings in Texas. Following the state's revolution, Mexican Texans were soon excluded from any meaningful place in the politics of Texas. Decades later Racism and segregation continued on until after Mendez v. Westminster. Many families were affected by segregation and violation rights. Gonzalo Mendez hired Attorney David Marcus whom he helped with collecting evidence, interviewing people, and finding data to support his position. He ruled the discrimination of non-white children as unconstitutional. The Westminster school district appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit who ruled in favor of the Mendez. The Court of Appeals based the ruling on state law which allowed them to dodge the issue of racial discrimination at that moment. Fast forward a few decades later, students from a high school decided to walkout of school as a sign of protest. The walkouts were coordinated to take place on March 6, 1968, at 10 a.m. Students had to plan after school and on the weekends. They built up support amongst East L.A. schools and the student bodies were ready. All told, an estimated 15,000 students walked out of classes from Woodrow Wilson, Garfield, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Belmont, Venice and Jefferson High Schools. They walked out despite school administrators barring doors, and helmeted police officers wielding night sticks. These high school kids were peacefully protesting for their rights even if it meant facing a beating. Cesar Chavez's historic 300 mile march from Delano to Sacramento was one to be remembered. The journey put Chavez and the farmworkers movement on the national stage. Chavez always insisted that bringing change would not be easy, and his legacy offers a powerful reminder that progress toward greater social and economic justice does not proceed on a straight path. When Chavez started organizing farmworkers, nobody knew it would take 13 years to win labor rights, or if the campaign would win even after two decades. He had no government or foundation funds, no wealthy benefactors, and no online funding operation. For all of the reversals, disappointments and challenges left unmet, Cesar Chavez created a legacy that inspires us to this day. Dolores found her calling as an organizer while serving in the leadership of the Stockton Community Service Organization. During this time she founded the Agricultural Workers Association, set up voter registration drives and pressed local governments for barrio improvements. She was instrumental in the enactment of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975. This was the first law of its kind in the United States, granting farm workers in California the right to collectively organize and bargain for better wages and working conditions. Rodolfo Gonzales, who founded an urban civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice. Soon he became one of the central leaders in the Chicano movement and a strong proponent of Chicano nationalism. In the late sixties and early seventies, Corky Gonzales organized and supported high school walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality, and legal cases. He also organized mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War. His key to liberation for the Chicano community is to develop a strong power base with heavy reliance on nationalism among Chicanos. His contributions as a community organizer, youth leader, political activist, and civil rights advocate have helped to create a new spirit of Chicano unity.

Chicano History Mural

Mario Torero / Via ucsd-student-news.blogspot.com

A Chicano mural in San Diego located at UCID Campus. DBQ'S: 1. Why did the artist paint this mural? 2. Why would this mural be located on campus? 3. Does this mural look like another mural you have seen? 4. What historical perspectives does the artist show with this mural?

Segregation Towards Chicanos

NBC News / Via nbcnews.com

Signs like the one in this undated image were displayed at various restaurants and other pubic accommodations under a system known as "Juan Crow" laws. -Russell Lee / Dolph Briscoe Center for American History- DBQ'S: 1. Why do you think this was allowed back then? 2. How do you think Chicanos felt seeing this on businesses? 3.How would you feel if you saw a sign that didn't allow you or your family? 4. What era does this sign compare too that you have learned throughout history?

MENDEZ V. WESTMINSTER Newspaper Article

Weebly / Via 58012514.weebly.com

"Ruling Gives Mexican Children Equal Rights." Sylvia Mendez and Equality. DBQ'S: 1. How do you think chicano families felt after seeing this in the newspaper? 2. How would you feel if you found out you were able to have equal rights? 3. Do you think the author of the newspaper did a great job spreading the news?

Chicano Student Walkout

United Way LA / Via unitedwayla.org

Conchita Mares Thornton on the left and "Little John" in the white shirt demonstrating at Roosevelt High School. Conchita was on the Chicano Student Newspaper staff and was also a member of a teatro group. DBQS: 1. What do you think the students were thinking about during this time? 2. Do you think you would walk out and protest for a good cause? 3. Why was protesting important for the Chicano students?

Cesar Chavez "Huelga"

Beyond Chron / Via beyondchron.org

Cesar Chavez leads the 300 mile 1966 march from Delano to Sacramento. DBQ'S: 1.What do you think the protestors are thinking about during this walk? 2. Would you walk 300 miles to protest about the inequality of farm workers? 3. What would you do if your family member was a farm worker during this time?

Dolores Huerta Leading (UFW)

Smithsonian Institute / Via sites.si.eduón-en-los-campos

Dolores Huerta leads supporters of the United Farm Workers (UFW) in an unidentified march, early 1970s. Unidentified photographer, Walter P. Reuther Library, Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs, Wayne State University. DBQ'S 1. What do you think is going on in the picture? 2. Why would Dolores Huerta be in the front of the line, and what does this symbolize? 3. Do you think it is important to lead a group during a hard time?

Rodlofo Gonzales "Crusade For Justice"

John Prieto / Via gettyimages.com

SEP 27 1969, SEP 28 1969; Gonzales, Rudolfo - Groups; Rodolfo (Corky) Gonzales uses Bullhorn to speak at police building; He is flanked by two unidentified members of his organization, the Crusade for Justice.; (Photo By John Prieto/The Denver Post via Getty Images) DBQ'S: 1. What do you think the men in this picture are thinking about? 2. Why does Rudolfo have a Bullhorn in his hand? 3. Why do you think Rudolfo led the organization Crusade for Justice?

WANTED

Ester Hernandez / Via collections.museumca.org

La Virgen de Guadalupe pictured as a criminal in "Wanted" DBQ'S 1. Why would the artist use a religious figure in a Wanted poster? 2. Who does La Virgen de Guadalupe symbolize for in modern time as well as the past? 3. How would you feel if you saw your family member or you on a Wanted poster?

Book Cover for Chicano!

F. Arturo Rosales / Via artepublicopress.com

Book Cover for "Chicano! History of The Mexican American Civil Rights Movement" by F. Arturo Rosales DBQ'S: 1. What does the picture from the book cover symbolize? 2. Why do you think the author wrote this book? 3. Do you think this book would be good to read in a classroom?

Index

Tile I: Title Tile II: Summary Tile III: Chicano History Mural Tile IV: Segregation Towards Chicanos Tile V: Mendez V. Westminster Newspaper Article Tile VI: Chicano Student Walkout Tile VII: Cesar Chavez "Huelga" Tile VIII: Dolores Huerta Leading (UFW) Tile IX: Rodolfo Gonzales "Crusade For Justice" Tile X: WANTED Tile XI: Book Cover for Chicano!

Citations

Cesar Chavez Day and the Power of Activism. (2016, March 30). Retrieved from http://beyondchron.org/cesar-chavez-day-reflects-power-of-activism/.

Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://artepublicopress.com/product/chicano-the-history-of-the-mexican-american-civil-rights-movement/.

Christine. (1970, January 1). new mural to electify ucsd community. Retrieved from http://ucsd-student-news.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-mural-to-electify-ucsd-community.html. Dolores Huerta. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://doloreshuerta.org/dolores-huerta/.

Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sites.si.edu/s/topic/0TO36000000L5OBGA0/dolores-huerta-revolution-in-the-fields-revolución-en-los-campos.

Gamboa, S. (2018, May 16). History of Racism Against Mexican-Americans Clouds Texas Immigration Law. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/history-racism-against-mexican-americans-clouds-texas-immigration-law-n766956.

HISTORICAL PHOTOS FROM THE 1968 EAST L.A. WALKOUTS. (2018, March 27). Retrieved from https://www.unitedwayla.org/en/news-resources/blog/historical-photos-from-the-1968-east-l-a-walkouts/.

OMCA COLLECTIONS. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://collections.museumca.org/?q=collection-item/2010941.

Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.escuelatlatelolco.org/Corky.html.

The Court Case. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://58012514.weebly.com/the-court-case.html.

Journey Box Lesson Plan

Instructional objective: To teach the students about the Chicano Civil Rights since this period is skipped in Social Studies.

TEKS:

(b)(20) Citizenship. The student understands the fundamental rights of American citizens guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and other amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

(b)(22) Culture. The student understands the contributions of people of various racial, ethnic, and religious groups to the United States. The student is expected to:

Target grade level:

5th grade

Required materials:

-Buzzfeed

-poster paper

-markers

-blue stickers

-green stickers

-worksheets

-board games

Opening

Gaining Students Attention: Start by handing out only one green or blue sticker per student. Then letting blue students sit at the reading circle with board games while green students sit at their desk with worksheets. Ask the students how they feel? Open up with Civil Rights Movement for Chicanos.

Body

Discuss what is going on in the first picture. 1. Why did the artist paint this mural? 2. Why would this mural be located on campus? 3. Does this mural look like another mural you have seen? 4. What historical perspectives does the artist show with this mural? Discuss what is going on in the second picture. 1. Why do you think this was allowed back then? 2. How do you think Chicanos felt seeing this on businesses? 3.How would you feel if you saw a sign that didn't allow you or your family? 4. What era does this sign compare too that you have learned throughout history? Discuss what is going on in the third picture. 1. How do you think Chicano families felt after seeing this in the newspaper? 2. How would you feel if you found out you were able to have equal rights? 3. Do you think the author of the newspaper did a great job spreading the news? Discuss what is going on in the fourth picture. 1. What do you think the students were thinking about during this time? 2. Do you think you would walk out and protest for a good cause? 3. Why was protesting important for the Chicano students? Discuss what is going on in the fifth picture. 1.What do you think the protestors are thinking about during this walk? 2. Would you walk 300 miles to protest about the inequality of farm workers? 3. What would you do if your family member was a farm worker during this time? Discuss what is going on in the sixth picture. 1. What do you think is going on in the picture? 2. Why would Dolores Huerta be in the front of the line, and what does this symbolize? 3. Do you think it is important to lead a group during a hard time? Discuss what is going on in the seventh picture. 1. What do you think the men in this picture are thinking about? 2. Why does Rudolfo have a Bullhorn in his hand? 3. Why do you think Rudolfo led the organization Crusade for Justice? Discuss what is going on in the eighth picture. 1. Why would the artist use a religious figure in a Wanted poster? 2. Who does La Virgen de Guadalupe symbolize for in modern time as well as the past? 3. How would you feel if you saw your family member or you on a Wanted poster? Discuss what is going on in the first picture. Discuss what is going on in the ninth picture. 1. What does the picture from the book cover symbolize? 2. Why do you think the author wrote this book? 3. Do you think this book would be good to read in a classroom?

Practice Activity

After we finish the Buzzfeed, I will pass out one poster sheet to each group with markers. They will write down about one idea from the history of the Chicano Movement. This will help me see whether or not they understood what I presented to them.

Closing:

“Today we learned about the Civil Rights Movement for Chicanos. We learned that Chicanos faced segregation and racism since early times. Another thing that we learned was the fight for equality by leaders such as Huerta, Chavez, and Gonzales. It’s important that we know about this time period in history. Tomorrow, we will be learning about another group that faced segregation and racism as well.”