1. Pick up handouts (pink and yellow)

2. Mexican American Civil Rights

3. Crystal City Walk-Out

4. On December 9, 1969, American students of Mexican ancestry walked out of class in response to the inadequate and antagonistic responses of the Anglo-controlled school board. Mexican-American and proposed remedies. Some of the educational issues were: ·  Employ more Mexican-American teachers that would be more sensitive to Mexican-American students; ·  Create a Mexican-American studies class; ·  Homecoming Queen should be elected by the students and no one else; ·  Change school board policy in regards to selecting the cheerleaders; ·  Eliminate the Dual Sweetheart policy for the baseball team;  ·    Allow students to speak Spanish at school; ·   Install Bilingual Education; ·   Get rid of racist teachers; ·   Student led elections for organizations and clubs, instead of teachers.

5. The walkout lasted until the federal government Civil Rights Commission mediated a compromise between the school board and the students. The duration of the walkout was two weeks.

6. Cesar Chavez (1927-1993) Used non-violent methods
Fought for the rights of migrant farm workers
With his wife, Chavez taught Mexican immigrants to read and organized voter registration drives
Co-Founded the National Farm Workers Association
Used strikes and boycotts (lettuce and grapes) to gain rights for farm workers
Led a nationwide boycott of grapes
Name later changed to United Farm Workers
Motto: “Si, se puede”
Was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously

7. Dolores Huerta (1930 -
Worked to improve social and economic conditions of immigrant workers and fought to end discrimination
Created the Agricultural Workers Association and co-founded the United Farm Workers
Lobbied politicians on many issues
Allowing migrant workers w/out U.S. Citizenship to receive public assistance and pensions and creating Spanish-language voting ballots and driver tests
Received the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom Award and the Eleanor Roosevelt Award
Also was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame
Quote: “Walk the street with us into history. Get off the sidewalk”

9. Hector P. Garcia (1914-1996) Served in the Medical Corps during WWII
Fought against discrimination of Mexican Americans
Organized the American G.I. Forum to improve veteran benefits and give them better medical attention
Soon expanded to address educational and vocational training, housing, public education, poll taxation, voter registration, hospitalization, and employment
He was Awarded the American Medal of Freedom
First Mexican Americans to receive this honor
Motto: “Education is our freedom, and freedom is everybody’s business”

10. League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC)
Established in Corpus Christi, Texas
Believes in assimilation
Work to advance the economic condition, educational opportunities, political influence, and civil rights for
Hispanics Americans

11. La Raza Unida
Started in Crystal City, Texas and spread to the Southwestern United States
Centered on Chicano Nationalism
Wanted better housing, work, and educational opportunities for Mexican Americans

12. Mexican American Legal Defense Educational Fund (MALDEF)
Founded in San Antonio, Texas
Brought important civil rights cases before the Supreme Court such as:
White v. Regester
Edgewood ISD vs. Kirby
Rodriguez v. San Antonio ISD

13. The Five Battlefronts:
Still exists today
The Five Battlefronts:
Educational
Social
Spiritual
Economic
Political