The Chicano Movement In The 1970's

Great Essays
Question #1

Chicanos have gone through a lot and specifically thought out the 1970’s. The Chicano movement in the 1970’s can be described as powerful, political, and history changing. It was just not the adults who struggled, the Chicano youth took a part too. For instance, the youth were struggling with identity, equal education, and just plain discrimination. Chicano youth struggle with identity because when they are in the United States they are pressured into giving in into the dominant culture, but they still hold on to what is their Mexican culture. Also, they learn English, learn the “white” history, and when they go to Mexico, they are not treated well because they have assimilated into another culture. Moreover, Chicanos struggled
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El Plan De Delano is an important event in Chicano history, which is when 6,000 members of the UFW Association decided to strike California grape growers for higher salaries and better working conditions. Cesar Chavez was the leader of the strike and the organizer for a pilgrimage from Delano to Sacramento, which was intended to fight for their rights to be treated equally.
Moreover, in the documentary Struggle in the Fields, it is a documentary based on the lives of Mexican American field workers and how their wages were low and how the working conditions were bad. Basically, the documentary is a visualization on how the Cesar organized and went through with El Plan de Delano. Likewise, in the documentary Fighting for Our Lives, is another visualization on how Chicanos struggled and had to fight for their lives. Also, the workers were using non-violent strategies but were still beaten and abused for fighting for what they believed in. Furthermore, Cesar Chavez and the UFW used many tactics to bring the growers to the table and negotiate contracts. For instance, Cesar Chavez organized a boycott, he picketed, fasted, and marched with numerous Chicanos that accompanied him. Not to mention, the younger generation of Chicanos participated and were impacted by Cesar’s movement by the younger Chicano generation wanting to make changes for themselves for a better future. For instance, the Chicano youth also organized and participated in walk-outs to send a message that they too have political power. Also, the youth wanted equal education and a place in society since they were trying to find their

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