Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement

F. Arturo Rosales

Jan 1997 · Arte Publico Press

About this ebook

Chicano! The History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement is the most comprehensive account of the arduous struggle by Mexican Americans to secure and protect their civil rights. It is also a companion volume to the critically acclaimed, four-part documentary series of the same title, which is now available on video from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Both this published volume and the video series are a testament to the Mexican American communityÍs hard-fought battle for social and legal equality as well as political and cultural identity. Since the United States-Mexico War, 1846-1848, Mexican Americans have striven to achieve full rights as citizens. From peaceful resistance and violent demonstrations, when their rights were ignored or abused, to the establishment of support organizations to carry on the struggle and the formation of labor unions to provide a united voice, the movement grew in strength and in numbers. However, it was during the 1960s and 1970s that the campaign exploded into a nationwide groundswell of Mexican Americans laying claim, once and for all, to their civil rights and asserting their cultural heritage. They took a name that had been used disparagingly against them for years„Chicano„and fashioned it into a battle cry, a term of pride, affirmation and struggle. Aimed at a broad general audience as well as college and high school students, Chicano! focuses on four themes: land, labor, educational reform and government. With solid research, accessible language and historical photographs, this volume highlights individuals, issues and pivotal developments that culminated in and comprised a landmark period for the second largest ethnic minority in the United States. Chicano! is a compelling monument to the individuals and events that transformed society.

Ratings and reviews

While the writing was good and the subject matter covered well, the flow of information was scattered throughout the book making it not useful for classwork making it difficult to follow for learning all the facts on a singular event or person. Not a very good historical book to use if you need more exact facts, figures, dates and concepts for study. Also, the index was missing more than a few important figures that were written about in the book that shows a lack of attention to detail.

About the author

F. ARTURO ROSALES is the author of Testimonio: A Documentary History of the Mexican-American Struggle for Civil Rights (Arte PÏblico Press, 2000), Chicano! The History of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement (Arte PÏblico Press, 1997), Hispanics and the Humanities in the Southwest, and Pobre Raza: Violence, Justice, and Mobilization Among M?xico Lindo Immigrants. He is a professor of history at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.