“The Origins and History of the Chicano Movement”Presentation by Patricia PowellBased on the essay written by Roberto Rodriguez

The beginning of the Chicano Movement•Some consider the beginning to be during

the Columbus expeditions, some consider it the Mexican American War of 1848.

•The beginning of the contemporary Chicano Movement took place during the 1960’s during the same time as the Black Power Movement

Patricia Powell

• What makes the Chicano Movement unique?• -It’s focuses.

• “Separate goals and visions and unique histories”• -pg1, Roberto Rodriguez

• It’s focuses were improving the life of farm workers, ending Jim Crow style segregation, police

oppression and land rights.Patricia Powell

Organizations spawned from the Chicano Movement

United Farmers Workers UnionLa Raza Unida PartyThe Brown Berets

The Crusade for JusticeAnd many more…

-pg1, Rodriguez

Patricia Powell

Chicano Studies departments in Universities

A new phenomenon has occurred where professors are more passionate than

students. (pg.2)Activist Theresa Cordova “Anyone saying

the movement is dead means he is dead!”

There was an absence of Chicanos on college campuses up until the 1960s due to

discrimination and segregation

Chicano Studies cont.“Prior to the development of Chicano Studies as a discipline, very knowledge existed about the chicano” –pg 4, Rodriguez

“The purpose of Chicanos studies to give intellectual support to the movement”

–pg 4, Rodriguez

The Electoral Arm of the Chicano Movement

The La Raza Unida party was the first and only political party for Chicanos.

Resistance against Jim Crow institutions powered this group.

Chicano activists won school board elections just to find Anglos remained in

power by being administrators and power brokers.

Patricia Powell

Chicano Movement alongside with the Civil Rights movement •Many Chicanos were involved with the civil

rights movement. •“Neither black or white” and writer and

activist Elizabeth Martinez said during and after the civil rights movement, that as far as race goes “Latinos don’t matter”.

•Books like “Occupied America” written by CSUN Chicano Studies professor Rodolfo Acuna helped to reject the notion that Hispanics were foreign or immigrants Patricia Powell

Women in the Chicano Movement

• Feminism seemed exclusive to white women in history.

• Men lacked interest in the challenge of Latina women specifically.

• “it was male defined, sexist and misogynistic and homophobic” –pg 6, Rodriguez

• Female scholars were less of a concern to men during the movement and women were expected to be homemakers. Patricia Powell

Persistence of Chicano Studies •The anti-affirmative action movement

continues to keep it important that Chicano studies stays prevalent.

•Maria Jimenez , human rights activists says “we’re here. We’ve always been here and we’re not going away.” –pg.7, Rodriguez

Patricia Powell

Reference This presentation was a product of the article

The Origins and History of the Chicano Movement by Roberto Rodriguez, April 2006

Quotes provided were provided by Rodriquez on the page number indicated.

Patricia Powell