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- Reading responses must be AT LEAST 200 words.
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- Reading responses are due by 8pm on the day PRIOR to our discussion of the required reading.
After viewing the film and reading the text “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas: A Micropolitical Perspective on the Education of Mexican Americans in a South Texas Community,” it made me reflect over how the education we, Mexican Americans, receive today has gone through change. Back then chican@s were only judged and treated by how they looked. While watching the film, I found it cruel that people only saw the “Mexican” part of students, therefore they were expected to end up working in the field as their parents did and they did not receive the same education as others who were just Americans. Another thing that stood out were the walk outs. I found that this was a good way for their voices to be heard; everybody became united. The thing that I found was unfair was the fact that there was police brutality involved and sixteen people arrested for conspiracy. I truly believed that people should have not been arrested or treated in a violent way, when the only thing that they were doing was trying to make their voice be heard and fight for what they believed was fair. Now that I see how education is, I appreciate even more than I did the fact that we get the same education as any other person. We now can strive for a better future without the idea that because we come from a Mexican family who has worked in the fields, we should also work in the fields. We should be proud of being Mexican Americans and we should embrace both of those worlds equally.
ReplyDeleteGuadalupe Cazares
The film and the reading have made me realize how we as Mexican Americans have been evolving over time. I believe that right now we are living in a generation where we need to be careful of everything we say, especially because of our current president. It is sad to see the way he mentions us and not just Mexicans, but people from all over the world. As shown in the film, it is understandable to see how these people reacted. It is sad to see how the police tried to control them because of the huge waves of protestors and how they were threatened to be arrested if they did not obey their orders. The way these Chicanos were hurt because they were protesting is simply unbelievable because they were treated as if they had committed a crime. On the article assigned, it has made me realize some issues that I was not aware of. I can see how the Africans and Mexican Americans did not feel like they were actually being helped. I think that one of the biggest impacts was on how the students decided to walk out of the schools because they did not feel in a safe environment. In an environment where they could not express their culture and not be have any fears. It is sad to see these cases because they are students who want to get an education but the racist environment prevents them from achieving their goal. There are now some cases in Texas where a teacher tells a student to not speak Spanish because he is not in Mexico. I believe that we all need to continue supporting each other and especially now in this era with our current president. (290)
ReplyDeleteBruno Morales
After viewing “Taking Back the Schools” and reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas,” I was reminded of the blessing of education. As a young Mexican American woman who is on the pursuit of continuing her education, I can gratefully say that I have not encountered the troubles of racial segregation. It is unfortunate to observe the past struggles of Mexican Americans, and other supposed minority groups, in obtaining their rights to effective education, and it is more disheartening to know that these difficulties still reside within the United States. Through the reading and film, I further became aware of these troubles occurring so close to my home and community in South Texas. As I read the findings of Guajardo and Guajardo, it appeared as if the events recorded were of a far-off place told of “only in the movies,” but the reality of the matter is that it did happen and it affected a group of people familiar to me, other Mexican Americans. No person should be deprived of their privileges and entitlements as citizens of their own country, much less education which aids an individual to become prepared and equipped for a career that will sustain them and the future generations to come.
ReplyDeleteCeline Brianna Salas
Knowledge is an important tool in our society, being deprived of such is like being anchored into stagnation. In the film “Taking back the school” it was admirable to see how young chicanos organized and protested against the unjust education system in East LA. It felt aggravating as some of the teachers and the school system in general tracked the Mexican American students into the vocational courses instead of the college ones. Although It seemed as if society didn’t want the chicanos or other minorities to progress, this deep racial hindrance did not stop their quest for progress and knowledge. When minorities are constantly being subjected to indignity and oppression (especially in an academic setting where it should be a place for advancement) it shows us the hypocrisy and racial division we have as a society. It was estimable to read Guajardo’s’ “Impact of Brown on the Brown” because of the small towns of Edcouch and Elsa in our little corner of South Texas, that sent shockwaves throughout the country. The story of Héctor Ramirez was inspiring, going to Detroit to work in the auto assembly line and discovering the power a united community can have, and the impact they can achieve. Again, just as with the film I was baffled as to how, knowing that someone wants to progress in this society, why would they impede their opportunities. Is it human nature to be bigot / racist? …It seems like such an unconceivable answer. (245)
ReplyDelete-Víctor D. Gaytán
After watching the film, “Chicano! Episode 3: Taking back the Schools” and reading the text “Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas” by Guajardo and Guajardo, I learned and consumed so much information. I reflected a lot on how much education has changed over the years for us Mexicans. Such as today’s society, Chicanos were judged very cruelly and made fun of for their own appearance. In the film, “Mexican” students were just looked at as Mexican when in reality they were and are much bigger than that. Many view us Mexicans as the ones who should be working on the fields instead of trying to get an education. The education is for the white people only. Personally, I could relate to this situation because of my mother who was picked on for wanting to go to school when she was younger. Her own siblings would ridicule her but that didn’t stop her. She did it on her own and no one encouraged her to go to school, she motivated herself and knew it was for the better. I always looked up and respected my mother for that. Mexicans just wanted their voices to be heard and that is why they stand in unity with one another. Education has changed so much throughout the years and I can honestly say that I truly appreciate it more than ever after watching the film. No matter what race you are, we can strive for a better future for ourselves and our family. Everybody should embrace their race and culture and don’t let anyone bring you down.
ReplyDeleteMichael Garcia
While watching the episode “Chicano! Taking Back the Schools” and reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas,” by Guajardo and Guajardo, I came to realize the intense struggles of racism, segregation, discrimination, and just out right hatred Mexican American students had to endure. Education should be able to open opportunities, encourage knowledge, and create confidence within a society. But Chican@s were denied all those things, because of the unequal school system they were given. I had ever learned of these struggles that took place in my own home. This is what I found to be astonishing, that this occurred where we are today. From being a dominant white society, to the majority being Hispanic and having equal education systems. This has helped me gain an appreciation and respect for the students who protested with the Walk Outs of 1968. The youth would not stand for the brutality the whites were acting upon the Mexican Americans. They refused to be inferior to the Anglos and would not be yield to the expectation of growing up to only be “laborers.” This protest shows the courage and strentch Hispanics have. Which makes me proud to know that where we are today would not have been possible without the efforts our culture will always portray. In the episode Sal Castro expresses his pride with this protest in saying, “With their heads held high, with dignity. It was beautiful to be a Chicano that day.”
ReplyDeleteAlma De La Llana
"The impact of the Brown on the Brown of South Texas" was an impact that changed the generations and equality of the people. Reading about the Mexican-American struggles is insane because the people are going through so much struggle just to get to where they want. Struggles like racism and segregation in schools was not an easy challenge. However, I completely find interesting how with every situation happening with the Mexican Americans they link it to what's happened in the United States with the African Americans. Moreover the fact of how the African Americans have a lot of impact on the Mexican Americans. Even in the Chicano Episode, students were impacted to protest for a fair educational system. I think about how much the young students were strong, inspired enough to get the education they wanted. Also think about it now and how blessed I am to have not struggled to get the education that we have now and even more the discrimination that we have not encountered. Because of the protests and the Brown Vs. Board of education helped us get to where we are today.
ReplyDeleteYarazeth Ramirez
Looking at the impact Brown students have had in making education more inclusive really gave me hope. I believe that teenagers, even in the valley, can still strive for a more equal society. Even though it will take time, the best movements are not rushed. I am really truly inspired by my community for standing up to bigotry and racism in the 1960's. I am proud that the Brown V. Board of Education movement was so iconic it awakened the Chicanos in California, and the Tejanos here in the Rio Grande Valley. It is amazing that one of the most iconic movements in the fight for Mexican - American rights was so lost in history. I am really ashamed that we have not learned nearly enough on the impact Mexican American students have made. I feel like if we teach high schooler's right now about the impact other high school kid's voices had in the 60's, they would be motivated to stand up for what they believe in. I think the fact that some high schoolers in the small town of Edcouch- Elsa made such a ginormous impact in a civil rights movement really is something of beauty. The brown voice got louder in the face of being shushed, and thrown away by society.
ReplyDeleteMichael Gonzalez
After watching the film Chicano! Episode 3: “Taking Back The Schools” and reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas” I realized how strong and passionate our raza is. Despite all the limitations they had, they decided to go out and fight for what was fair for their children. Some say that education is the best inheritance our parents can give us, and I completely agree. However, children of South Texas in the 1960s and 1970s did not really have the opportunity to receive a decent education. Made sad to learn that Mexican American students were taught only the basics to become housewives, housekeepers or farm workers. Anglo teachers did not view in them the potential to actually become professionals who could contribute to the South Texas future economy. This made me appreciate the education that we have nowadays and the opportunity our children will have to attend schools where they won't be humiliated because of their race or even worse, segregated.
ReplyDeleteThe courage students had to walk out of their school and protest against the treatment they were receiving is just admirable. They were not afraid the consequences because their only goal was to end racial discrimination and segregation in schools in order to obtain they education they deserved.
-Rossy Tapia Cervantes
Guajardo and Guajardo, being south Texas natives, acknowledge the unique point of view that they bring to the table. They mention Scheurich’s term “ontological blind spot” in which a researcher will struggle in describing a community in its entirety because of lack of background a stranger in a new land might experience. They embrace the subjectivity they provide with their research but for me, this is more of pro than a con. The amount of personality in this reading is what makes the reader much more intrigued and interested in the story that is being told. In page 511, the authors describe a story of a mother, Tila Zamora, and her insecurities when taking her Latina daughter to a predominantly white school and her efforts to get her in. We see a more charged approach on the Chicano! episode in which crowds of students walk out in solidarity for their equal rights to education. Guajardo and Guajardo speak of personal stories in which the students experienced discrimination from many of the faculty at their schools who did not agree with their politically fueled walk outs. We see this type of criticism in present day movements in relation to social justice like kneeling during the national anthem in protest of how people of color, specifically black people, are treated in this country. It’s no surprise that the critics of this movement are white republicans who have never experienced racial discrimination. In my opinion, the oppressor should never think they have a position in which they get to criticize the way the oppressed react to marginalization.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Juarez
I remember when i was young, always wished i can go back in time to where The Beatles and AC/DC were performing at concerts, you know, just traveling back in time to be there, in the moment, just what a great feeling it would be to be able to be there and fell the moment. But up until I read and watched these videos, I now wish that I can go back i time to be there, along side them,fighting for the change. I want to be able to support them and make that difference and fight for what i believe is right. Its just ridiculous how some of these people were acting, I mean even the police were treating these kids like they would treat other Mexican Americans, which was not very good. There was talk of them being suspended and threats that if they were on their way to college and scholarships, that all of that would be taken away from them. All these negative things are just being thrown at them constantly, but they refuse to give up and they jut keep going. And whats even more chilling is that they did this with pride and dignity, they were not ashamed and were not taken down easily. Its just very powerful and touching, and it gives me a sense of pride.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Lopez
While I was reading this article I made a self-reflection and analyzation of modern society and the renewal of Mexican Americans rights. To be more precise I am going to talk about our present president, I’m sorry if I’m offending anyone but that is not my intention. First of all, Hector Ramirez made me think about myself. For example, he had the potency to speak up and be the leader to a march that became history and an immense revolution. I don’t have the potency to be a majority part of that movement nor a participant. even though this movement proved and did make a big or a small difference, it still doesn’t end with discrimination or segregation. For example, Donald trump thinks that all Mexicans should go back to Mexico because they’re “criminals, killers, they steal from our country […]”. His words are affecting many Chicanos, Hispanic and Mexicans because they feel scared now of being in the land that is supposed to be a protection for the ‘oppress’. Now parents have to tell their kids to leave the room whenever Trump comes out in the t.v. Also students that want to have an education are now threatened of being deported just because they came here illegally with a legal reason. I want to make a change in this society so that everyone can be free and live in a world free of racism and oppression.
ReplyDeleteStephanie Nicole Cantu
As I was reading this article and watching episode 3 made reflect that nothing much has change today in the modern days. For instance, we see how they call Mexicans are called by ugly nicknames or even call “criminals, killers, these words affect many Mexicans, Chicanos and Hispanics all because they feel there are going to be dismissed from a country that they don’t belong when all they have done is just come and follow what’s now known as the “ American Dream” Yet they don’t see that, in my opinion the oppressors should never they have a position in which they get to criticize they way they put down or react to marginalization. This reading and film made me feel how powerful it was for them to fight for what they knew what was right and specially for their kids. Since now a education plays a huge role in our country, because back them Mexican people had it hard to study that’s why us know a days such value the education we have and don’t take it for granted, because there is people out there that want it specially those who right now are suffering because of what’s know DACA. Lets value what we have and don’t take it for granted, “let’s be leaders not followers.”
ReplyDelete(Maria Leal)
After I watched the film and read the reading I could realize how Mexican American students were treated and segregated just because they were not Anglo. As a Mexican I really feel sorry for those people who were discriminated, honestly I don’t think I could tolerate that and stay here. Watching how teachers and Anglos had a bad perspective of Mexican American saying that they were meant to be workers makes me feel sad. This has no sense because the Edcouch-Elsa happened after the Civil rights movements, how American people discriminated people because of their race if they were saying that we are all equal.
ReplyDeleteI think Mexican Americans were seen as labor workers because of the big migration in the 1920’s where they came into the US to work in the fields, I believe that could have applied for old men but not for children, it was not their fault to move here. In the reading the bus driver said “Mexicans are not supposed to get educated” (11), this is like jealousy, Americans have never wanted others to be like them, with an education, a good job, and a good quality of life. Migrants just looked for happiness.
One thing that surprised me although I knew something about it was that Mexicans were not allowed to speak Spanish in schools, they were punished really bad, I understand that we have to learn the official language of the country but it is hard when you don’t know anything about it. Also, most teachers used to persuade Mexicans by saying that they only served as workers and not as students, because of this many dropped school by 12-13 years old.
What I liked most of the reading was when Mrs. Zamora took her daughter to a white school where only white students could attend, she believed her daughter had the capacity of being like them. I liked that she fought for a better education for her daughter even asking the president for help to stop the racism of that school and sending a message that Mexicans could learn as equal as Americans. I agree with the idea that it does not matter where you are from, but the “ganas” you put it.
Missael Salinas
The article of The Impact of the Brown on Brown was quite long, but was quite captivating because it contained tons of valuable information. As the weeks go by in the class and as we read and watch various readings on our history and people I can’t help but engage and want to learn more but at the same time gets me angry and frustrated due to the things they experienced and went through. We are here because of them, and we should be more appreciative and thankful for what they went through. One of the struggles they had that really upset me was the way the racial segregation was happening during this time and how discriminated they were. It’s so sad how they were separated by races and color when that is out of someone’s control You don’t choose the race you are born into, you don’t choose the color of your skin before your born when in fact it’s mother nature deciding the pigmentation of you skin based on your ancestors. The walkouts are something that touched home because they occurred at the high school I attended and graduated from which was Edcouch-Elsa. It makes me even more proud to know how much of a change the Educational establishment has evolved.
ReplyDeleteBrandi Rae Rodriguez
The film and the reading “The impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas,” by the Guajardo’s, was a micropolitical perspective on the education of Mexican-Americans in the South Texas community. It consisted of a handful of events, including one that took place 30 minutes from most of our hometowns, and described many experiences/stories Mexican-American families faced during this period. These stories were implemented to give power and motivation to the people who tell them and are influencing others. Something that stood out most to me about this article was the activism Mexican families took upon themselves to gain an equal and justice educational system, even despite the lack of resources they were given in their communities. Some young teenage chicanos even offered their homes to organize meetings implying their efforts outside of school to fight for their values. This, along with the walkout in East Los Angeles and the Brown vs Board of Education case, helped influence Mexican’s to strengthen their MAYO (Mexican American Youth Organization) movement by creating their own walkout in Edcouch Elsa schools during 1968. Something that bothered me about the walkout situation was that the School Board forced parents to publicly read a statement of apology prepared by school administrators to admit they were wrong if they wanted their children to be accepted back into the school as they were expelled, even though they were clearly fighting for a right. It bothers me because even until this day I feel like the system still doesn’t want us to speak over issues like this even though they clearly exist in the matrix. Instead they rather justify themselves by voicing out another opposing statement trying to avoid the problem. A good comparison I could correlate to this would be the kneeling of the national anthem and “what it stands for,” because we are still definitely fighting the unequal opportunities we are given in a social hierarchy perspective. (319)
ReplyDeleteAdrian Martinez
I learned a lot after watching “Chicano! Episode 3: Taking Back the Schools.” The Mexican experience in schools was that they would treat and teach them at the lowest common denominator of labor and that they had to know how to use their hands, and then get them into the fields and other jobs as quickly as possible. If I were there while everything was happening, I wouldn’t hesitate one bit and do the walk outs with the rest of the students for the better of education for Mexicans and all the discrimination about Mexicans. Another reason I wouldn’t hesitate on this is because it wasn’t fair that Mexicans weren’t being taught what they were supposed to and teachers didn’t care about them and that they were just being passed to the next grade level because of their age. If I were a senior and I knew that the walk outs wouldn’t help me at all because I would be graduating, I will still do it because I wouldn’t want the younger generations to go through any of that and be taught what they need so they can continue on to college and have a better life. Till this day many people are saying that Mexicans are meant for being in the fields and that they are making this country bad, but in my opinion, this isn’t true.
ReplyDeleteIvan Lira
After viewing the film “Chicano! - Taking back the schools” I was really impress with the actions of the authority. The authority would treated high school students as they were treating the Mexican “badly”, I mean they didn’t even know if they were Mexicans threatening them by taking the right to continue going to school by getting expel. Thirteen Chicano leaders were arrested to go to jail for 66 years! They are right the school system should respect the people, no matter how many problem they said they have they should treat them with respect! At the end of the film I dint like the fact that some people were kicked out of the school campus but I liked the fact that they left with their heads up high no shame of being who they are! In the reading what really caught my attention was that it only took one student to speak up so that the other that felt the same way would stood up for what they believed. They wanted equality a better education system, and I mean who would want a better education. I didn’t really knew about Edcouch-Elsa high school walkout, but I did know about students walking out of campus. In my high school they were going to do the walkout because of someone started to send the picture but then everybody found out including teachers and by the next day the campus was full of securities on every door the principal usually was never there but that day him and the vice- principals were walking around the hall ways making sure that nobody would walk out.
ReplyDelete-Mayra Saldaña
As I watched the film Chicano! Episode 3: Taking Back the Schools and reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown side of Texas” by Guajardo and Guajardo made me realize how we have things a bit better now than they did back then. It is still bad though and even more ever since this past presidential campaign. I feel like although there is still racism today, it isn’t as easy to get out of making a racist remark because of so much social media. If someone does or say something to someone of color or race, it can automatically be put on Facebook and everyone will see and people will stand up for it. Things were not like that back then.
ReplyDeleteMexican Americans were seen as to just work in the fields nothing more. Both of my parents worked in the fields for years, and because of what they went through, they pushed me to seek a better future because they didn’t want me doing the same.
I have experienced racial remarks back in high school when 1 teacher was explaining the lesson and then told me, “Do you want me to repeat it in Spanish since you’re not getting it?” I was sickened and I felt so little in front of my classmates and that’s because we were all mostly Mexican American. My teacher had a white last name.
I’ve always been a firm believer that history does repeat itself. As I go on to pursue my career as a Mexican American female, I will fight for my rights along with my peers to end all of this racism that seems to be building more ever since our President got elected. As long as I have my education, no one can stop me. La lucha sigue.
Giselle Sanchez
Reading and watching all of the material we have until now is exhausting because trough this texts I am able to fight a “lucha” that seems not to have an end. Not all the blood, sweat and effort of every individual we have read of, nor the ones we haven’t read about has finished this fight. If it is exhausting to me, I can’t imagine how it was for our people in that time.
ReplyDeleteThis time the fight is for something of what personally I would consider is of high importance. Education is the future. The children who are being educated carry in them the way the world is going. For chicanos, education meant a better future for la raza.
While watching the Chicano! espisode I realized how violent the police men were when arresting the students from the walkouts. I almost sensed something odd about the hostile manner these policemen where handling the situation. Hatefulness and resentfulness of some kind was very noticeable along with a clear desire to show superiority over the Mexican students. This image came back to me mind when reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas”. The text describes how, “As agents for community change, we use a pedagogy of place that creates a new reality. It is a pedagogy based on the assets of people and grounded in a value system that respects people's dignity.” The fact that Mexicans were not consider capable of going to college makes me assume that the professors thought they were not worthy enough, or at leass less than the other students which I am almost unable to think of.
Ingrid Davila
After watching the film “Chicano! Episode 3: Taking back the Schools” teach us the importance of being grateful of what we have today, because as Mexican-Americans we didn’t suffer from segregation as previous generations of Mexican-American students did in schools. Parents of these students contributed a lot to the community and the U.S., but most young Chicanos at school suffer from discrimination and decided to protest by doing walkouts. The film is interesting since these events occurred after the Brown v. Board of Education decision was already passed, declaring segregation at school unconstitutional, but still occurred to Mexican-Americans. I think if were the students during that time we will have reacted the same, protesting the school. After reading “The Impact of Brown on the Brown of South Texas” I feel so proud that I graduate from Edcouch-Elsa High School were history occurred. It was so incredible that a group of students could unite to make a change in the school, because these students were not afraid of the consequences and wanted his voice to be heard and by doing walkouts showed their disapproval of the school policies. I will remember the name of Rosie Zamora not only because she was the first Mexican-American to be enrolled in an Anglo elementary school in Edcouch, but also the courage his mother had to fight for his daughter’s rights.
ReplyDeleteLuis Reyna
From the article I read, I believe it was degrading of the teachers for them to teach their Mexican students in that manner because it further proved that they were less than human. It was crystal clear when their own guidance counselor suggested for them to not go to college, but instead have the women attend secretary school, and the men go off to join the military. According to the counselor, and others with the same perspective, the Mexicans didn’t belong in society well enough to succeed in a college career, for their lack of privilege. In my opinion, it goes back to slavery where they thought of them like dogs who were to be outside doing all the manual labor as opposed to “white folk” who had it done for them. As a result of the immense discrimination and minimizing of the Mexicans, their parents stood up with them and fought back by suing the educational system. During that case, the judge stood with them as well and defended them of the ignorant minded. I believe it was in that moment, that the Mexicans felt proud and also felt they had made an achievement in history because someone of higher power, believed in them.
ReplyDeleteAshley Escalante
After reading the article and watching the video, I believe that the school walkouts were a good thing because these students were fighting for a better education and I believe that everyone has the right to fight for what they want, especially if it is education. Students wanted to get a good education in order to better themselves, to have a better future and that should not depend on the color of someone’s skin or race. I also do not like the fact that kids with brown skin tone were sent to a completely different school than the other kids, the schools were not in good conditions and they were not getting the right education. The article mentions how a father asked the bus driver to drive closer to their home because of the rain and the driver’s response saddened me, how can someone think that an specific race of people is supposed to do something for the rest of their lives? Yes, it is mostly Mexicans that work in the fields, but those working parents want their kids to get an education so they do not have to work as hard as they do, they want their kids to have a better future and to be treated like everyone else.
ReplyDeleteYadira de Leon
In reading the article about the school walkouts I thought that it made a big impact and powerful statement. Back then school were segregated just because of the color of skin. Just because you were different culture doesn’t mean you are dumb or beneath a different race. Everyone deserves the same education and help no matter the race. Any race can have a person who does not do so well in school. In watching the documentary, I listened to all the comments about how Mexican children were being treated by the others. Growing up it was the complete opposite for me. I was picked on and made fun of for not being able to speak Spanish. All the children would call me vampire or pale cause of my skin tone. They would say “you are not a true Mexican if you don’t know Spanish” or “Mexicans are supposed to be dark skinned not pale like you”. Hearing things like this made me wish I was fully white and not Mexican. It made me feel like I didn’t belong in my own culture. I understand that it was horrible for Mexicans to be labeled and separated by color. But what about people like me being separated by my own people for my color.
ReplyDeleteVictoria Galvan