The complex and often bigoted history of the United States earned the nation considerable amounts of respect and success that numerous other countries have been attempting to earn for decades. However, one cannot ignore the many troubling times that America and its inhabitants encountered before earning such a venerated title. As Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, “Remember, remember always that all Of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists” (Roosevelt). This is a concept that Americans often have to be reminded about when they demonstrate acts of discrimination against immigrants. Amongst the most disturbed groups of American occupants are Chicanos and Chicanas, or “…American[s]… of Mexican descent” (“Chicano”).
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Although times have overall improved for the Chicano community, the fight that they shared alongside other minorities cannot be ignored. While El Movimiento was one movement, it was composed of four subdivisions. The factions consisted of farmworkers, students, and politicians. One of the first organizations that helped raise awareness of Mexican-American discrimination was United Farm Workers Organizing Committee which was founded by Cesar Chavez, a well-known activist and labor leader, in 1962. The committee often organized strikes, boycotts, and diplomacies in order to bring attention to the bigotry that Chicano workers often witness. Eventually, the organization’s efforts “…persuaded the largest grower of table grapes, John Guimara Sr., to only hire workers represented by the union,” earning many Mexicans stable jobs (“Chicano Movement”). Oftentimes, the strikes conducted by the group concluded in terrible manners. For example, in 1973, a series of walkouts began to occur in separate areas of California, and, consequently, the employers of many farmers began to physically abuse their employees and call the authorities due to anti-protesting laws. The violence that the strikes led to eventually encourages the leaders of California to pass the Agricultural Labor Relations Act which protected the rights of agricultural worker’s (“Chicano Movement”). As time advanced, Mexican-American farmers expected to receive more freedoms. However, after the election of George Deukmajian, a conservative governor, in 1983, Chicanos’ employers began to flee from justice as they continued to mistreat their workers (“Chicano Movement”). Today, Chicanos in the Southwestern of the United States still have to work in harsh conditions for low
Although times have overall improved for the Chicano community, the fight that they shared alongside other minorities cannot be ignored. While El Movimiento was one movement, it was composed of four subdivisions. The factions consisted of farmworkers, students, and politicians. One of the first organizations that helped raise awareness of Mexican-American discrimination was United Farm Workers Organizing Committee which was founded by Cesar Chavez, a well-known activist and labor leader, in 1962. The committee often organized strikes, boycotts, and diplomacies in order to bring attention to the bigotry that Chicano workers often witness. Eventually, the organization’s efforts “…persuaded the largest grower of table grapes, John Guimara Sr., to only hire workers represented by the union,” earning many Mexicans stable jobs (“Chicano Movement”). Oftentimes, the strikes conducted by the group concluded in terrible manners. For example, in 1973, a series of walkouts began to occur in separate areas of California, and, consequently, the employers of many farmers began to physically abuse their employees and call the authorities due to anti-protesting laws. The violence that the strikes led to eventually encourages the leaders of California to pass the Agricultural Labor Relations Act which protected the rights of agricultural worker’s (“Chicano Movement”). As time advanced, Mexican-American farmers expected to receive more freedoms. However, after the election of George Deukmajian, a conservative governor, in 1983, Chicanos’ employers began to flee from justice as they continued to mistreat their workers (“Chicano Movement”). Today, Chicanos in the Southwestern of the United States still have to work in harsh conditions for low