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Latino Equality. Just as we have looked at the African-American and Native American fight for equality so to did the Latino population in the US They were fighting for greater representation in government; better treatment; and a respect for their culture and heritage.
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Latino Equality • Just as we have looked at the African-American and Native American fight for equality so to did the Latino population in the US • They were fighting for greater representation in government; better treatment; and a respect for their culture and heritage. • Many Latinos upon moving into the US worked on fruit and vegetable farms doing backbreaking work.
UFWOC • Two individuals stepped forward to fight for rights for these workers: César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. • Together they established the National Farm Workers Association • Four years later the NFWA merged with a Filipino group and were renamed the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC)
UFWOC • Chávez and others insisted that the farms accept the union as the bargaining agent for the farm workers. • Upon the refusal to accept the union (1965), Chávez led the people in a boycott the grapes grown at the farms. • There were many supermarkets and shoppers who heeded the boycott. (Mrs. Craig-Salmon remembers the boycott.)
UFWOC • Chávez Believed in Dr. King’s nonviolence concept. • During the boycott, Chávez also went on a hunger strike for 3 weeks where he lost 35 pounds. • In 1970, Huerta negotiated a contract between the grape growers and the UFWOC • Union workers gained higher wages and other benefits long denied them
UFWOC • The UFWOC victory inspired others to get involved around the country • Puerto Ricans in New York demanded that schools offer Spanish speaking children classes taught in Spanish and that the curriculum should include culture • 1968: Bilingual Education Act provided funds for schools to offer bilingual and cultural heritage programs for non-English speakers
Chicano and “Brown Power” • Chicanos (Mexicanos): is a term to describe Mexican-Americans which expressed pride in their ethnic heritage • 1968: David Sanchez forms a group called the “Brown Berets”, a community action group • The “Brown Berets” organized walkouts at East LA high schools demanding smaller class sizes; more Chicano teachers and administrators; and programs designed to reduce the Latino dropout rate • At colleges and universities more militant Mexican-American students won the establishment of Chicano studies programs
political power • Many Latinos also organized politically by forming some groups to work in the two party system • Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) • Helped LA politician Edward Roybel to the House • In the 1960’s 8 Hispanic Americans served in the House, and one served in the Senate (Joseph Montoya of New Mexico)
political power • The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) • Formed in 1929 to fight segregation and discrimination • In the 1940’s and 50’s fought to desegregate schools in the southwest • 1954: helped Mexican-Americans gain right to serve on juries • 1960’s: some LULAC programs were funded under LBJ’s “Great Society”
political power • La Raza Unida (Mexican-Americans United) • 1970; created to make an independent Latino political movement • Some groups became more militant • 1963: Alianza Federal de Mercedes (Federal Alliance of Land Grants) was formed to help reclaim US land taken from Mexican landholders in the 19th century • Formed by one-time evangelical preacher Reies Tijerina