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Chicano/a Activism: Struggle for Equality
Justin Henak
ThesisThe social and political Chicano activism and rulings in discriminatory cases from the 1940’s-70’s forced the justice system to stray from hypocrisy and slowly but surely grant more equal rights that serve the equality we abide by today.
Racist corruption in the Justice System has been resolved
Background Information
Historic Setting Starting off with the “La Crisis” in the early 1930’s leading
to WWII times in the early 1940’s Constant struggle for minority acceptance in American society
throughout history.
Due to:
Colonization
White Supremacy => Military based leadership => fear of immigration => DISCRIMINATION
Mexicans weren’t admitted to the best theaters, restaurants, etc.
They had to use different bathrooms than whites
Entertainment centers had signs designating one night of the week for Mexicans and Negros
(A time of Fascism: Race of a nation takes importance over the individual in a nation regardless of his/her race)
The Zoot Suit in Los Angelos
Consisted of: Long coat & skirt or billowing trousers often seen with a chain
Rebellious subculture supported by many Chicano/a youth during the early 1940’s signifying defiance
Deemed the name Pachuca/o => Pachuquismo
Became supported by other minorities (Japanese Americans & some African Americans) who opposed WWII and the discrimination that came from it
Pachuca/o and Pachuquismo
Pachuca/o’s were people of the Chicana/o culture who had joined together in forming their own identity, creating a subculture often called puchaquismo. They supported the zoot suit
They spoke their own slang called “calo” sometimes called puchaquismo as well
They often had gang affiliation in the Streets of LA
Society saw pachuco/a’s as Mexican-American gangsters
Enjoyed the night life and stayed out often
Pachuca women were shunned from the Chicano/a culture because they stayed out and didn’t present the typical woman who belonged in the house.
They were seen as dirty sluts
What’s Wrong With the Zoot Suit Swag?
WWII => significant cut back in use of fabrics nationally
was a time of rationing and it was looked down upon to wear many clothes.
These materials were needed to help with the war effort
When production cuts were made, tailored suits were sent to the black market
Wearing the zoot suit showed disrespect and a lack of patriotism
Sleepy Lagoon Trial, 1942
People v. Zamora Man showed up unconscious on the side of the road next to a swimming
pool Mexicans used because they weren't allowed to use public pools
22 young Mexican men and boys convicted for murder of one Man
Many were proven guilty, appeal resulted in reversal
Largest mass trial in Californian history. Defendants were not allowed to sit with their attorney
Ruled that mass trial was unconstitutional
Ruled that being proven guilty without sufficient evidence is unconstitutional
Argument: the injustice above has been eliminated from the modern day court system There hasn’t been a mass trial since
Chicana/o’s gained the right to have their attorney's by their side
Zoot Suit Riots, 1943 (LA) The sleepy lagoon trial brought outrage to the
pachuco community and resulted in rioting
Word from the press in LA spread that “pachuco/a’s were fair game, and military personnel could assault Mexican’s without fear of arrest” (Acuna, 242) pg 3 of Essay. June 1943: gangs of white service men and sailors (Anglo-
Americans) invaded neighborhoods and beat hundreds of youths senseless based off their skin color and how they were dressed
Anglo Hypocrisy Police arrested more than 600 Mexican-American
victims the Anglo mob had brutalized The corruption in the Justice system is shown by the refusal
to file charges on the sailors
Injustice Recognized
Mendez v. Westminister, 1946 Trial concerned segregation of children in public schools
Mendez’s children were not allowed to attend the same school as other kids in their neighborhood because of a scale based off of how dark their skin was and how Mexican their last name sounded
This case was a KEY FACTOR in the Brown v. Board of Education case that ruled: In the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has
no place
Argument: These brave people of color challenging a court system, of which they know is biased, has integrated public schools. (See notes below)
Hernadez v. Texas, 1954 Hernandez was found guilty of murder sentenced
by the All-Anglo jury to Life in prison Appealing all the way up to the supreme court before it was
overturned
A case that questioned Chicana/o’s presence as a culture in the American Society Argument: Resulted in a re-evaluation of the 14th
amendment. The ruling established that Mexican-Americans and all other racial groups in the United states had equal protection under the 14th amendment of the Constitution.
Judicial Misconduct Against Minorities
Bias in the court portrayed Anglo (White) America’s self entitlement as a dominant culture and race Created a large internal tension between races
Before these cases, justice to a minority could only be served at upper court levels when lawyers representing the minority back prosecutors to a corner; giving the judge an option to do his duty and find justice or be discriminately hypocritical.
What Came from Reversals in the Court
Room BIAS HAS CHANGED The court cases have a great importance in the ability of
Chicana/o’s to be seen as their own culture and race as part of the United States Nation
PROGRESS: It showed courage of the judges to render unpopular yet morally and legally fair outcomes
Legal changes regarding the process of a fair trial in court has brought further equality for members of minorities.
Present benefits minorities have gained from Political Activism Mass trials eliminated
To be proven guilty off of insufficient evidence is unconstitutional
Minority recognition under the 14th amendment
Integration in public schools
Chicano Moratorium
Began with protest against Vietnam War in 1970
Chicanos were finally accepted as a culture and a community where their voice was successfully heard in society Social and political activism
Taking an important role, with combination of other protests, ending the war was accomplished with domestic pressure showing how the voice of minorities finally had meaning.
Historical and political watershed for Chicanos as their emerging role and voice in society Overturned the conservative politics of the previous
generation
Modern Significance of the Moratorium
“The importance of the Chicano Moratorium is that it has now become a part of our tradition and culture and should be commemorated as such each year with a sense of pride and recommitment” (Franco), pg 6 of essay.
The success Chicana/o’s had from the struggle for an equal voice and acceptance in society in the past has since been recognized, and will continue to be celebrated in the future.
To Wrap It Up
Chicano/a’s struggled to be accepted as a culture and community in the American nation but their persistence earned them justice and equality. Being shunned from society, unrecognized as a culture, suffering discrimination to the extreme; Mexican-Americans have established a voice, not only as a culture but as individuals as well, that is respected across society here in the present.
THE END