Book

Chicano empowerment and bilingual education: movimiento politics in Crystal City, Texas

Garland Pub.New York • Published In 1998 • Pages: xvi, 228

By: Trujillo, Armando L..

Abstract
This is the story of how Mexican-Americans in a small city in South Texas empowered themselves in their fight for bilingual education. In 1969, the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO) targetted the Crystal City school system and lead a three-week walkout by Mexican-American students protesting discrimination by administration and teachers. Demands included a call for bilingual and bicultural education. MAYO won some initial concessions, but little more. The next step was to organize an alternative party, La Raza Unida (RUP), to run a slate of candidates for city council and the school board. In 1970 the party won majorities in both arenas and began to reshape the school curriculum and address long ignored issues, concerning housing, health care, and unemployment. Trujillo discusses the Aztlán movement and the importance of ideology in raising ethnic consciousness and formenting ethnic unity. He also describes how the movement petered out once initial gains were made and consolidated.
Subjects
Cultural revitalization and ethnogenesis
Ethnic stratification
Political parties
Political movements
Education system
culture
Chicanos
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 2001
Field Date
1989-1992
Coverage Date
1969-1989
Coverage Place
Crystal City, Zavala County, Texas
Notes
Armando L. Trujillo
Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-219) and index
LCCN
98028626
LCSH
Mexican Americans