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Columnas, 1970-1971
1971-05-28 ""La Raza"" Page 11
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-11- LA RAZA IN FOCUS yesterday and TODAY by Ernesto Rodriguez The unity of La Raza has always been a long sought after goal of the Mexican people in the United States. In the past Mexican colonias in many towns of the Midwest had organized into groups and had achieved a degree of unity on the purely local level. Many of these efforts sometimes failed due to those human frailties that our people have suffered so much from throughout the history of our migration to the Midwest. These aborted attempts at community organizing resulted from a lack of education, a fierce individualistic pride, complicated by an inferiority complex which can be defined as an instinctive defense mechanism against the peripheral prejudices of the dominant Anglo society and also emanating from the forced adjustment to and industrialized socio-economic system geared to technilogical advancement and its incumbent dehumanization. The first migrations of Mexican people to the Midwest came from the central plateau of Mexico from the states of Michoacan, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and the neighboring states of Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. They represented that vast mestizo peasantry of Mexico which had suffered years of economic oppression under the thumb of dictator Porfirio Diaz and the rich land holding hacendados. They were strongly religious and conditioned in the catholic tradition of giving almost blind obedience to constituted authority. As Spanish speaking foreigners in a new land they were socially and educationally ill-equipped to make a rapid transition to the urban way of life of industrial centers. It was inevitable that our people in that early stage of our Mexican American history in the Midwest ere relegated to low-paying back-breaking jobs of section crews, packing houses, and foundries. This then was the heritage of first generation Mexican Americans who had one foot in Mexican culture and tradition and the other in the Anglo dominated society which demanded the speaking of English and regarded the Mexicans as foreigners, dirty, unkempt and therefore un-American. This oppressive influence could only have a detrimental effect on the Mexican American mentality and led to self-depriving notions of our incapability to organize, incorrectly based on Anglo values and standards of comparison. Comparisons which did not take into account the social discrimination and deprivation which negated our legitimate aspirations and educational attainment, all of which resulted in the adulteration of our Mexican culture. Now that we have overcome our group failings and have been intellectually liberated from the fallacious concept of a superior Anglo social order, we can fully appreciate and take pride in our achievements by measuring them in the true light of our own values and standards. La Raza's accomplishments in all areas of social activity truly appear colossal in stature considering the almost insurmountable obstacles confronting our people. Freedom born of truth has strengthened our self-determination which is becoming increasingly manifest in the La Raza Unida movement. La Raza is experiencing a cultural awakening enhanced by a new spirit of unity which is as strong and enduring as our indomitable faith in God. This, then, will be the resounding note of the La Raza Unida Issues Conference to be held at St. Ambrose College on Saturday, June 5, 1971. WE URGE NUESTROS HERMANOS DE LA RAZA TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND AND MAKE THIS DAY A MEMORABLE ONE IN THE HISTORY OF LA RAZA. [[underline]]FORUM HONORS GRADUATES[[end underline]] The Davenport Chapter of the American GI Forum will hold a Banquet-Dance Saturday, may 29, 1971, to honor the Mexican American high school graduates of 1971. The event will be held at the Clayton House on 3rd and LeClaire Streets in Davenport. Los Mocambos will provide the music for the dance. The public is invited to attend. Tickets for the banquet and dance are $5.50 and for the dance only $1.50 in advance. At the door prices are 50[[cent symbol]] more. For tickets and reservations call 323-2674.
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-11- LA RAZA IN FOCUS yesterday and TODAY by Ernesto Rodriguez The unity of La Raza has always been a long sought after goal of the Mexican people in the United States. In the past Mexican colonias in many towns of the Midwest had organized into groups and had achieved a degree of unity on the purely local level. Many of these efforts sometimes failed due to those human frailties that our people have suffered so much from throughout the history of our migration to the Midwest. These aborted attempts at community organizing resulted from a lack of education, a fierce individualistic pride, complicated by an inferiority complex which can be defined as an instinctive defense mechanism against the peripheral prejudices of the dominant Anglo society and also emanating from the forced adjustment to and industrialized socio-economic system geared to technilogical advancement and its incumbent dehumanization. The first migrations of Mexican people to the Midwest came from the central plateau of Mexico from the states of Michoacan, Jalisco, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi and the neighboring states of Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. They represented that vast mestizo peasantry of Mexico which had suffered years of economic oppression under the thumb of dictator Porfirio Diaz and the rich land holding hacendados. They were strongly religious and conditioned in the catholic tradition of giving almost blind obedience to constituted authority. As Spanish speaking foreigners in a new land they were socially and educationally ill-equipped to make a rapid transition to the urban way of life of industrial centers. It was inevitable that our people in that early stage of our Mexican American history in the Midwest ere relegated to low-paying back-breaking jobs of section crews, packing houses, and foundries. This then was the heritage of first generation Mexican Americans who had one foot in Mexican culture and tradition and the other in the Anglo dominated society which demanded the speaking of English and regarded the Mexicans as foreigners, dirty, unkempt and therefore un-American. This oppressive influence could only have a detrimental effect on the Mexican American mentality and led to self-depriving notions of our incapability to organize, incorrectly based on Anglo values and standards of comparison. Comparisons which did not take into account the social discrimination and deprivation which negated our legitimate aspirations and educational attainment, all of which resulted in the adulteration of our Mexican culture. Now that we have overcome our group failings and have been intellectually liberated from the fallacious concept of a superior Anglo social order, we can fully appreciate and take pride in our achievements by measuring them in the true light of our own values and standards. La Raza's accomplishments in all areas of social activity truly appear colossal in stature considering the almost insurmountable obstacles confronting our people. Freedom born of truth has strengthened our self-determination which is becoming increasingly manifest in the La Raza Unida movement. La Raza is experiencing a cultural awakening enhanced by a new spirit of unity which is as strong and enduring as our indomitable faith in God. This, then, will be the resounding note of the La Raza Unida Issues Conference to be held at St. Ambrose College on Saturday, June 5, 1971. WE URGE NUESTROS HERMANOS DE LA RAZA TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ATTEND AND MAKE THIS DAY A MEMORABLE ONE IN THE HISTORY OF LA RAZA. [[underline]]FORUM HONORS GRADUATES[[end underline]] The Davenport Chapter of the American GI Forum will hold a Banquet-Dance Saturday, may 29, 1971, to honor the Mexican American high school graduates of 1971. The event will be held at the Clayton House on 3rd and LeClaire Streets in Davenport. Los Mocambos will provide the music for the dance. The public is invited to attend. Tickets for the banquet and dance are $5.50 and for the dance only $1.50 in advance. At the door prices are 50[[cent symbol]] more. For tickets and reservations call 323-2674.
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