Latino Activism
--Why study?
--a.) Led to the creation of
university and college Programs &
Departments such as UWM’s
Spanish Speaking Outreach
Institute [SSOI], thereafter renamed the Roberto Hernandez
Center, RHC.
Latino Activism
--Why study?
--b.) Led to a generation of
university & college scholars
that embarked on a variety
of academic & research
pursuits that currently form the
basis for much of what we
learn and teach.
Latino Activism
--Why study?
--c.) Chicano Studies and
thereafter, Latino Studies, are
rooted on the community
activism that led to their
creation—therefore community
engagement and/or
empowerment is central to our
understanding this discipline.
Latino Activism
--Goals:
--a.) Essentially, to assure the
incorporation of the history,
contributions, and aspirations of a
group of Americans that
heretofore have not been part of
the `American Experience’--what
did the “American Dream” mean
to them/us?.
Latino Activism
--Goals:
--b.) To contribute to the
empowerment of our community:
principally through educational
attainment, political involvement,
economic
development/opportunity, artistic
expression, and overall
community wellbeing.
Latino Activism
--Goals:
--c.) To engage with the broader
community in a manner that
allowed/s for mutual respect,
appreciation, understanding, and
eventual acceptance, but done
under terms that do/did NOT
subjugate either one from full
expression and fulfillment.
Latino Activism
--Today’s Issues:
a.) Immigration Reform
--Comprehensive Reform
--DREAM Act
--DACA/DAPA
--Central Amer. Children/Women
--Deportations
Latino Activism
--Today’s Issues:
b.) Education
--Quality of public K-12, dropouts
--Alternative models
--Cost of Higher Education/in-State Tuition
--Scale/size of K-12 schools
--Lack of Latino teachers/bilingual
--Segregation
Latino Activism
--Today’s Issues:
c.) Political Engagement
--Electing Latino officials
--Increasing power
--Key electoral states
--Becoming citizens
--Voting, lack off
--Intra-Latino unity, lack-off
--Lack of national leadership
Latino Activism
--Today’s Issues:
d.) Discrimination/Exclusion
--Lack of presence in Pop culture
--Language vs. skin color
--Intra-Latino conflicts
--Not Black/White paradigm
--Threat to Affirmative Action
--Largest minority—implications?
--skin color vs. accent vs. foreign-born
Latino Activism
The nation’s immigration debate and
the treatment of immigrants is, in
many ways, our country’s new civil
rights debate. This is particularly true
for our nation’s Latinos that are NOT
undocumented, for negative
perceptions/treatment of
undocumented individuals
percolates onto ALL Latinos.
Latino Activism
There is a re-emergence of
Chicanismo in US, for the social
conditions that existed in the
60s/70s, are again prevalent.
More students are choosing
Chicano Studies majors and there
are more colleges/universities
offering Chicano Studies
programs.
Latino Activism
Today’s activism cannot compare to
the activism of the 60s/70s, for social
status of Latinos is in many ways
different today…the role of social media
can and is very important for `community
organizing’…still, the central `spark’ for
activism is that individuals have to
have/feel passionate about something in
the lives—to make our life experience
better, which makes our country better.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1.) Who was Tiburcio Vasquez?
2.) When and why was Chapman Hall taken over?
3.) Why study Latino activism?
4.) Where/in what is Chicano/Latino Studies is rooted?
5.) What was one of the principal goals of Latino activism?
6.) What are the four major proposed provisions of
comprehensive immigration reform?
7.) What is an example of an alternative model for
education?
8.) What is meant by “key electoral states”?
9.) What’s a Chicano?...Chicanismo?
10.) Do the social dynamics that existed in 60s & 70s exist
today?