THE LEGACY OF SAL CASTRO
Marcela Aguilera
Influence & Impact
Dr. Lemaster
April 24, 14
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Sal Castro, a life-long educator, is well known for his role in the 1968 "Blowouts," the
student protests against unequal conditions at schools throughout the Southern California area.
His passionate activism and commitment to improve educational opportunities for MexicanAmerican students defined his entire career. He combated educational inequality throughout his
adult life by becoming a teacher and counselor, always with the presumption that Mexican
children came to school ready to learn but it was poorly run schools with ill-prepared teachers
that repeatedly failed them. Sal Castro led extraordinary changes, served as an inspiration, and
has left a remarkable legacy in today’s society.
Sal Castro son of Mexican immigrants was born in East Los Angeles on October 25,
1933. He began his education in Belvedere Elementary School located in East Los Angeles.
However, his father was forcibly repatriated during the “ Repatriation Movement” and his family
had to moved to Mexico. During his time in Mexico he learned Mexican history and about
historical figures such as Cuauhtémoc, the Aztec leader who resisted the Spanish conquest, and
about Los Niños Heroes, “ the young military cadets who centuries later resisted the U.S.
invasion of Mexico City in 1848.” After returning to East L.A. while still in grade school, he
experienced discrimination for speaking Spanish in the classroom. In second grade, his teacher
will isolate him in a corner and tell him “ sit in the corner until you learn English” (Garcia &
Castro, 33). He describes several discriminations he faced because he wasn’t fluent in English.
For example, he wasn’t allowed to play the trumpet or saxophone because his lips were too big
(Garcia & Castro, 32). Through all the difficulty he faced in school he witnessed his mother’s “
strength and courage, which influenced [his] only development” (p.32). His mother who was
fluent in English confronted the teachers who treated his son unjustly. Castro describes his
mother and father as a “fighter”. He got his “fighting spirit” from both of his parents. Castro
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grew up with no siblings, something that was very tough for him. His baby brother David passed
at six month old since his mother got a fever during her pregnancy, and it affected the baby’s
health. This death brought tension between his parents. After his father’s deportation their
marriage deteriorated and let to divorce (p.32) After graduating from Cathedral High School, he
served in the United States Army during Korean War. Upon his discharge he attended Los
Angeles City College and Cal State L.A. where he received his B.A. in social science. As a
college student he was active both in campus politics and politics in general. He served as the
student Co-chair in the 1960 Viva Kennedy presidential campaign. As well, he was a member of
the Mexican-American Political Association, and one of the founding members of Association of
Mexican-American Educators (KCET, “ Local Hero: Sal Castro”). Castro organized meetings
with fellow Mexican-American college students that resulted in a network of educational
activists and the formation of the Mexican-American Youth Leadership Conference. He carried
on the conference by organizing and presenting, now the conference is known as the Chicano
Youth Leadership Conferences (CYLC), Inc. Research shows that student participants at the
CYLC Conferences have an eighty-four percent graduation rate from four-year colleges and
universities (KCET, “ Local Hero: Sal Castro”).
In the book Blowout! Sal Castro and the Chicano struggle for educational justice, Castro
stated, “history really excited me; it was part of my identity. Perhaps that’s why I became a
social studies teacher” (p. 31). As an educator he incorporated Mexican- American history with
his Chicano high school students so that they could be proud of their historical heritage. Castro
had a great sense of Mexican identity; he had developed a sense of pride inside him.
Walkout:
In late 1967 East Los Angeles housed a school system entrenched in racism. The
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Mexican American community had the highest high school dropout rate and lowest college
attendance among any ethnic group. The poor facilities and constant underestimation of student
capabilities by teachers created an atmosphere hostile to learning. The oppressive conditions
coupled with the inability to make changes compelled students, activists, and teachers to meet
and discuss the situation. They decided that making their plight public was the best way to
pressure the school board into compliance with their demands for education reform. The Global
Nonviolent Action Database notes, “ Teacher Sal Castro, along with student leaders such as
Paula Crisostomo, college students like Moctesuma Esparza, and groups such as United Mexican
American Students (UMAS) and the Brown Berets, developed thirty-six demands to bring to the
Board of Education. These goals included bilingual, bicultural education, Latino teachers and
administrators, smaller class sizes, better facilities and the revision of text books to include
Mexican American history. ”
Sal was an educator at Abraham Lincoln High School guided student walkouts at five
predominantly Mexican American schools on the Eastside on L.A. in what came to be seen as a
milestone in community activism. The students demanded bilingual education, ethnic studies and
other changes at a time when the “curriculum largely ignored Mexican American history and
educators forbid Chicano students to speak Spanish and often steered them toward menial jobs
rather than college despite strong academic abilities, according to the district” (Watanabe, Los
Angeles Times). Therefore, Sal Castro is the recognized as the central figure in the 1968 East
L.A. Chicano Blowouts, as he led students to walk out of their classes to protest a “ culturallyinsensitive educational system.” The walkout lasted several days and spread to other high
schools and at the end 15,000 students joined this movement. Castro and twelve other individuals
were arrested. He was jailed for five days and charged with 30 counts of conspiracy of disturbing
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peace, but the charges were ultimately dropped (Fox News Latino). Castro was agent of change
as he continued to impact outside of a classroom setting. After forty-two years as a high school
educator, Castro continued to advocate for culturally relevant education, systemic reforms that
place students on track for higher education, and youth leadership. According to “The Global
Nonviolent Action Database” after the walkout “the Board did begin to recruit and hire more
Chicano teachers and administrators. Change was not immediately apparent in the high schools;
however a significant change occurred in the college recruitment of Latinos. Although most of
the demands were not met, the walkouts unified and empowered the Chicano community, which
in the process became a political force.” Through his life journey Salvador received various
honors and awards: including the dedication of Salvador B. Castro Middle School in 2010.
Castro received this honor by saying “ It is extremely humbling for me and East L.A. kids to be
put on the same list with giants of our country, including Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington, Grant,
Roosevelt, and Garfield; also, Kennedy, Mendez and Ochoa. I know that by naming a school
after me you are really honoring the students who, 41 years ago, tried to improve education with
their courageous walkouts” (KCET, “Local Hero: Sal Castro”).
Change Agent:
Sal Castro was definitely an agent of change who made history by his leadership in the
blowouts and in his career as a dedicated and committed teacher. He made a tremendous impact
on the fight for educational justice and his legacy as a civil right leader. Castro was not only an
important Chicano historical figure but it is an important figure in American history because he
helped to changed schools. The change was especially made in “ Mexican Schools” in other
words segregated schools. He was known for his dedication to serve with passion as an
influential educator. He challenged the school system to meet the needs of Mexican American
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youth. Sure enough, he made concrete change as he mobilized students to get their voices heard.
During that time Chicano students became aware of their identities and because of his passion
they were motivated to further their education. Some will argue that the demonstrations of 1968
did not cause significant change in the educational system. They will point to the fact that
Chicano students are still leaving grade schools at alarmingly high rates. But the walkouts were a
seminal event because Castro prompted a dramatic change in the youth, particularly Chicanos in
the Los Angeles region (Garcia 201). The post-walkout period brought a significant increase in
student applications and admissions to local colleges, and an array of programs were established
to provide financial and academic assistance.
Legacy:
Sal Castro, the man who helped shape a part of Los Angles history passed away on April
15, 2013 from thyroid cancer. Mayor Villaraigosa issued a statement, calling Castro “ a
courageous leader during the Los Angeles Chicano civil right movement. He will always be
remembered for his zeal and commitment to improving educational opportunities for everyone,
regardless of race (Watanabe, Los Angeles Times). He is recognized as an education warrior
who fought for equal access and opportunity for Latino students. He challenged students to
educate and prepare themselves to make a difference for themselves and their community.
Ultimately, Sal Castro succeeded in changing the lives of a generation, and he did indeed write
his own history. In Los Angeles Times "Recalling giant in Chicano history" Castallenos stated
that Castro was praised as a tireless, inspiring leader and activist by university professors,
doctors and a former California Supreme Court justice. More than 1,000 of Castro's family,
friends and admirers gathered to celebrate his life, which included the student walkouts at five
predominantly Mexican American schools, mostly on the Eastside. Castro's influence was so
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deep and profound that many of his students became teachers, and one of them Carlos Moreno
went on to become a state Supreme Court justice. Ricard Verches shared that Castro made
education relevant and made school worth going to; Verches became an international human
rights lawyer and lecturer at UCLA. He said, "We continue to give back to the community
because of him” (Castallenos, Los Angeles Times). I am forever grateful for Sal Castro because
he fought so I can obtain a higher education and as a future educator in Los Angeles School
District I plan to carry forth some of his influence.
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Works Cited
"East Los Angeles students walkout for educational reform (East L.A. Blowouts), 1968." Global
Nonviolent Action Database.
García, Mario T., and Sal Castro. Blowout! Sal Castro and the Chicano struggle for educational
justice. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2011. Print.
"Local Hero: Sal Castro | Hispanic Heritage Month | Local Heroes | KCET." KCET. N.p., n.d.
Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
Castellanos, Dalina "Recalling giant in Chicano history."Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2013.
Watanabe, Teresa. "Sal Castro, teacher who led '68 Chicano student walkouts, dies at 79." Los
Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.