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Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s
""The Chicano Movement"" by Ernest Rodriguez
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The Chicago Movement by Ernest Rodriguez There is a new spirit of unity and activity among the Mexican people of the United States that is being felt to some degree in every barrio and town where there is a concentration of La Raza. This movement has been characterized as the Chicano movement. One of the predominant factors that give life and strength to the Chicano movement is a greater communication about La Raza. In the Midwest there is greater awareness of Chicanos of their cultural heritage and their blood ties with their Chicano brothers of the Southwest. In turn, Chicano leaders of the Southwest are inspiring Chicanos all over the country with greater pride in their ethnic identity and appreciation of their historical contribution. Among the most outstanding leaders who have received nation-wide attention to Cesar Chaves [sic] head of the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee. He has successfully united the farm-workers of California through a non-violent unionizing effort and captured the support of a broad cross-section of Americans behind the farm-workers cause for self-determination. Chaves [sic] has given a new-born hope and spirit of unity to farm-workers all over the country and has inspired them to organizing efforts of their own. Another Chicano leader is Reyes Tijerina, the fiery former Evangelist preacher who headed the Alianza Federal de Mercedes. This movement aims to reclaim the lands of the Chicano of New Mexico based on the land grants given them by the Spanish government. These land grant rights were protected by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed by the United States and Mexico at the end of the Mexican War of 1848. Then there is the former top-notch pugilist Corky Gonzales, who has mobilized the young Chicanos of the Southwest into a highlmotivated Chicano. Through Corky's forceful, determined and wise leadership they have founded the Chicano headquarters in Denver, Colorado, called the Crusade for Justice. This community center features the only Chicano art gallery in the country, a library, and cultural appreciation programs. The Crusade for Justice has become a Mecca of culture of Chicanos throughout the country. Also several Chicano Youth Liberation Conferences held there have literally liberated young Chicanos from their Anglosization [sic] and given them a new sense of belonging to the great family of La Raza. It isn't surprising to find young Chicanos of the Midwest who couldn't speak Spanish, now attending Spanish language classes and devouring books about pre-Columbian civilzations of the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec, and of the history of Mexico after the conquest. They are gaining an appreciation for their historical past and applying the idealism of Mexican heroes such as Cuahutemoc, Emiliano Zapata, and Benito Juarez, to their present-day fight against the social injustices which oppress La Raza. This then is the Chicano movement which is sweeping out of the Southwest in a northwestern direction. Some Mexican communities of the Midwest, notably Michigan and Ohio, have established a direct line of communication with the movement and are spreading it to the other more remote Mexican-American communities in that part of the country. Many of these communities are plugging into the communication line of the Chicano movement and, as they do, they become activated to address themselves to improve the quality of life of La Raza.
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The Chicago Movement by Ernest Rodriguez There is a new spirit of unity and activity among the Mexican people of the United States that is being felt to some degree in every barrio and town where there is a concentration of La Raza. This movement has been characterized as the Chicano movement. One of the predominant factors that give life and strength to the Chicano movement is a greater communication about La Raza. In the Midwest there is greater awareness of Chicanos of their cultural heritage and their blood ties with their Chicano brothers of the Southwest. In turn, Chicano leaders of the Southwest are inspiring Chicanos all over the country with greater pride in their ethnic identity and appreciation of their historical contribution. Among the most outstanding leaders who have received nation-wide attention to Cesar Chaves [sic] head of the United Farmworkers Organizing Committee. He has successfully united the farm-workers of California through a non-violent unionizing effort and captured the support of a broad cross-section of Americans behind the farm-workers cause for self-determination. Chaves [sic] has given a new-born hope and spirit of unity to farm-workers all over the country and has inspired them to organizing efforts of their own. Another Chicano leader is Reyes Tijerina, the fiery former Evangelist preacher who headed the Alianza Federal de Mercedes. This movement aims to reclaim the lands of the Chicano of New Mexico based on the land grants given them by the Spanish government. These land grant rights were protected by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed by the United States and Mexico at the end of the Mexican War of 1848. Then there is the former top-notch pugilist Corky Gonzales, who has mobilized the young Chicanos of the Southwest into a highlmotivated Chicano. Through Corky's forceful, determined and wise leadership they have founded the Chicano headquarters in Denver, Colorado, called the Crusade for Justice. This community center features the only Chicano art gallery in the country, a library, and cultural appreciation programs. The Crusade for Justice has become a Mecca of culture of Chicanos throughout the country. Also several Chicano Youth Liberation Conferences held there have literally liberated young Chicanos from their Anglosization [sic] and given them a new sense of belonging to the great family of La Raza. It isn't surprising to find young Chicanos of the Midwest who couldn't speak Spanish, now attending Spanish language classes and devouring books about pre-Columbian civilzations of the Aztec, Maya, and Toltec, and of the history of Mexico after the conquest. They are gaining an appreciation for their historical past and applying the idealism of Mexican heroes such as Cuahutemoc, Emiliano Zapata, and Benito Juarez, to their present-day fight against the social injustices which oppress La Raza. This then is the Chicano movement which is sweeping out of the Southwest in a northwestern direction. Some Mexican communities of the Midwest, notably Michigan and Ohio, have established a direct line of communication with the movement and are spreading it to the other more remote Mexican-American communities in that part of the country. Many of these communities are plugging into the communication line of the Chicano movement and, as they do, they become activated to address themselves to improve the quality of life of La Raza.
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