La Raza Unida: Public Policies and Community Organizing
José Angel Gutiérrez, founder of La Raza Unida Party and a county judge, discusses several issues affecting Chicanos today and the party's efforts to address some of those issues through political office and community organizing. Gutiérrez first addresses the issue of white flight in Crystal City and explains that it is the result of Chicano organizing. However, Anglos still control much of the city’s economic structures and its low wages and sub-employment contribute to high levels of poverty.
Gutiérrez explains that despite direct opposition from both the state and federal government, the Raza Unida Party has managed to dramatically increase graduation rates and undertake several community improvement programs in Crystal City. They have been able to do so through federal grants, and Gutierrez explains their success in obtaining government assistance.
Gutiérrez also discusses the higher voter turnout in Crystal City and compares it to Chicano voter turnout throughout the state. He argues that Chicanos and minorities will vote when the candidates promise real change. He then evaluates some of the policies of prominent Texas politicians vis-à-vis the Chicano community and the Raza Unida Party. He also discusses some of the weaknesses in Chicano organizing and the problems posed by institutional racism. He believes democrats are beginning to realize the power of Chicanos and hopes that the example set by Crystal City and other Chicano communities will force the party to produce a more liberal and progressive platform--one where Chicanos can participate as partners.
KEYWORDS
3M CorporationActivism
African Americans
Agribusiness
Barbara Jordan
Bill Clements
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Capital Improvement Programs
Carter Administration
Central America
Chicano Movement
Cooperatives
Corruption
Crystal City Independent School District
Crystal City, Texas
Cummins Engine
Del Monte
Democratic Party
Department of Labor
Dolph Briscoe
Dropout Rates
Drugs
Energy
Environment
Executive Privilege
Exxon
Farm Workers
Father Sherril Smith
Federal Assistance
Food Stamps
Gas
Government Subsidies
Gringos
Jimmy Carter
John F. Kennedy
John Hill
Jose Angel Gutierrez
La Raza Unida
Latin America
Leonel Castillo
Liberation Movements
Mafia
National security
Ownership of Natural Resources
Poverty
Privatization of Natural Resources
Problems organizing Chicano movement
Proposition 13
Public Assistance
Racism
Republican Party
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Crystal City
Southwest
Stereotypes
Steven Oaks
Sub-employment
Tax Cuts
Texas Employment Commission
Texas Weekly
Third Party Politics
Third World Movement
U.S. Imperialism
U.S. Intervention in Latin America
Unemployment
Union busting
Urban Renewal
Utilities
Voter Turnout
Walter Mondale
Welfare
White Flight
WIC
Women, Infants and Children Program