Introduction to the Topic
Modern American history is largely taught from the perspective of the white majority. As a part of the cultural assimilation agenda, minorities attending schools are largely taught about white historical figures, such as kings, queens, prime ministers, artists, thinkers, the founding fathers, and many later presidents of the United States, who were predominantly white. At the same time, many non-white political activists that helped shape the existing landscape remain in the dark, aside from the very select few whose memory and role in history cannot be diminished by the administrative state apparatus.
One of such leaders was Martin Luther King Jr., who fought to end discrimination against blacks and other people of color. To the majority of the population of America, the struggles of Chicano and Latin-American people remain largely unknown. In this paper, I will attempt to analyze socio-political events of the 20th – early 21st century and highlight several important figures that helped promote the rights of non-white populations as well as advance Latin-American culture through art and cinematography.
Chicano Demonstration and Farmer Unions
Due to inequalities in education and rampant racism on the part of white employers, many Chicano had to toil in agriculture, which was historically considered one of the toughest and most low-paying jobs. The formation of farmer unions helped put an end to exploitation on the part of certain employees. The creation of the UFW is associated with the names of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez.
Together, they led the UFW in order to boycott certain producers that did not allow their workers to join the union, such as the Red Coach Lettuce (“United Farm Workers Pickets”) as well as other producers (“United Farm Workers Protest;” “Cesar Chaves Announces Advertising”). The majority of farms boycotted by the farmers’ union were lettuce and grape plantations (“United Farm Workers Demonstration;” “United Farm Workers Grape Strike”).
These protests were supported not only by the farmers themselves but also by the local students attending California University (“Chicano Students;” “Student Lettuce Protest”). In addition to boycotting these enterprises, Huerta and Chavez also protested against laws that specifically targeted Chicano communities (“Demonstration Protesting High Unemployment”). One of the major laws that the UWF under Huerta and Chavez struggled against was the Dixon-Arnett Law.
This law caused massive grievances for Latin-Americans as it prohibited them from being hired by potential employees due to a lack of a legal status, which was largely caused by the inefficiency of the American bureaucracy (“Demonstration Protesting Dixon-Arnett Law”). While Chavez was the leader of the organization and a brilliant spokesman with a peerless reputation, Huerta possessed great organizational talents that kept UWF protests organized. These protests were deliberate, legitimate, and peaceful. They helped demolish the stereotypes about Latin-Americans being violent, uncultured, and foreign to the idea of American democracy.
Chicano Legal and Political Activities
As the interests of the Chicano and Latin-Americans (both legal and illegal) were largely underrepresented by either of the two major political parties, their political activities revolved around union organizations, such as the UWF, MAPA, and ANMA. One of the veteran political activists and leaders of the Chicano and Latin-American community was Bert Corona. His fight for recognition of Latin-American rights in the US started in the university, where he taught young Americans about Chicano culture and history in order to preserve their national identity.
As one of the important leaders of MAPA and ANMA, he actively propagated for fair treatment of Chicano and Latin-Americans by the biased and racist criminal justice system of California. In particular, he argued against the use of informants as means of making pre-emptive arrests (“Use of Informants”) and supported Ricardo Chavez Ortiz during the ordeal involving hijacking a plane in order to make a political statement.
While Corona stated that what Ortiz did was a crime, it does not deprive him of the moral higher ground as he was trying to attract attention to a cause much greater than himself (“Press Conference”). Being a respected professor and possessing high education, his very presence during a conference undermined many of the stereotypes about Chicano people, showing a will and capability to thrive intellectually despite the shortcomings imposed upon them by the government and the existing educational system.
Cinema and Art
Chicano and Latin-American cinema and art in the USA are associated with the names of Cantinflas and Barbara Carrasco. Cantinflas influenced both Mexican and American political systems by using his charm and fame as an actor in order to promote sociopolitical goals and helping out Latin-Americans in both countries. Namely, he had an impact on the school system in the US as he visited many Latin-American and Chicano schools, donating to charities and attracting attention to grievances and injustices that the inhabitants faced, ranging from discrimination and ending with a lack of funding for essential maintenance and equipment (“Cantinflas Visits School”).
His cinema and screenwriting did not focus on the rich and powerful. Some of his favorite characters were among the hard-working Latin-American peasants. Through their portrayal in a realistic light, Cantinflas fought the stereotypes about Mexicans and Latinos enforced by Hollywood.
Another important figure that has recently found her way to the spotlight is Barbara Carrasco. She is considered a controversial political activist by the mainstream media, as her art is poignant and aimed at realistically describing the injustices, suffering, and trials survived not only by the Chicano and Latin-Americans but all minorities. Her testament to this goal is a massive mural placed on the wall of the Union Station in Los Angeles. This mural portrays the struggles of different ethnicities throughout the history of Los Angeles (“Union Station Mural”). Her work was censored and denied for many years, but the fact she persevered and succeeded gives courage to all Latin-Americans and Chicano artists worldwide.
Chicano Street Culture and Press
Some of the videos viewed in the scope of this project reveal the resilience and independence of Chicano and Latin-Americans against the oppressing state. Despite numerous restrictions and threats of police brutality, their society developed not only their own organizations and means of protest but also their own press. Unable to find access to larger prints, many Chicano newspapers, such as the Eastside Sun, were used to inform the population about recent events and organize protest activity (“Chicano Community Newspaper”). The main issue, as perceived by many Chicano community leaders, was the lack of funding from the state in order to manage even basic community needs (“Chicano Caucus”).
The protests were supported not only by the local newspapers, union organizations, and political leaders but also by the freedom-loving people calling themselves the Lowriders, who engaged the audience by presenting their old and heavily-modified cars as means of attracting attention and providing entertainment (“Lowrider Cars”).
Conclusions
As evidenced by a multitude of real-life examples and recordings, Chicano and Latin-Americans in the 1970s were nothing like they were portrayed by Hollywood. They were good, honest people who fought for their rights and jobs using civil means of protest. The reality of the Chicano protest was different from what the people of Los Angeles grew to expect and earned support for their cause.
Works Cited
“Cantinflas Visits School in East Los Angeles.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Cesar Chavez Announces Advertising Campaign for Grape and Lettuce Boycott.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Chicano Caucus and Obtaining Funds for Chicano Communities.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Chicano Community Newspaper Eastside Sun.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Chicano Students at Cal State Los Angeles Voice Concerns.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Demonstration Protesting High Unemployment Among Chicanos in East Los Angeles.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Lowrider Cars.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Press Conference Regarding Ricardo Chavez Ortiz.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Student Lettuce Protest and Boycott at San Fernando Valley State College.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Union Station Mural.” Youtube, uploaded by LA This Week. 2017. Web.
“United Farm Workers Demonstration at Teamsters Building.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“United Farm Workers Grape Strike.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“United Farm Workers Pickets Red Coach Lettuce.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“United Farm Workers Protest in Los Angeles.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.
“Use of Informants in Law Enforcement Agencies.” UCLA, uploaded by KTLA News. Web.