Onda Latina

The KUT Longhorn Radio Network Presents: Mexican American Experience Collection

Audio recordings including interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns in the series "The Mexican American Experience" and "A esta hora conversamos" from the Longhorn Radio Network, 1976-1982.

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PROGRAM INFO

Title:
The State Of The Chicano Today
Program #
1979-13
Themes:
Identity, Politics

Series:
Social Issues
Host:
Armando Gutierrez
Guest:
Tatcho Mindiola Jr.
Date:
Feb 27, 1979

The State of the Chicano Today

Tatcho Mindiola Jr, professor of Sociology at the University of Houston, assesses new developments in the Chicano Movement. Mindiola believes issues of identity and labels have become less important in the Chicano Movement. He also notes the emergence of a Mexican American middle class tied to the revival of politically moderate organization, like LULAC. Mindiola also observes a developing Mexican American intellectual class involved in the universities, publishing and journalism. Moreover, Mexican Americans are now grappling with how they relate to Mexico and Mexicans, including the undocumented workers. Mindiola concludes that that although the movement has become institutionalized, there is a widespread social consciousness among Mexican Americans that had only been present among the most militant groups in the 1960s.

Mindiola and Gutierrez then discuss the relevancy of the term Chicano and Mindiola concludes that although some conservative groups have appropriated the term, it still carries well-known political connotations. Mindiola then discusses the state of Chicano leadership and he explains that the most visible Chicano leaders have achieved fame because they addressed historical issues that plagued Chicanos in their states. Yet because of that specificity, their national recognition has not endured or strengthened the Chicano movement. He believes that Jose Angel Gutierrez and Leonel Castillo are two leaders who continue to command national attention, and he remains optimistic that more will emerge.

KEYWORDS

American GI Forum
Assimilation
Black Power
Cesar Chavez
Chicano Movement
Chicano Student Movement
Chicanos
Crusade for Justice
Divisions between Intellectuals and Community
Documented Workers
Education and Assimilation
Hispanics
Immigration and Naturalization Service
INS
Institutionalization of the Chicano Movement
Jose Angel Gutierrez
La Raza Unida Party
Latin American
League of United Latin American Citizens
Leonel Castillo
MAYO
MEChA
Mexican American
Mexican American Educational Council
Mexican American Intellectual Class
Mexican American Middle Class
Mexican American Relations with Mexico
Mexican Americans in Academia
Mexican Americans in Higher Education
Moderate Mexican American
Nomenclature
Parent Teacher Associations
Political Leadership
Publishing Houses
Reies Lopez Tijerina
Robert Allen
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzalez
Self-reference
Social Consciousness
Spanish American
Terminology
Undocumented Workers
United Farm Workers Union
 

Center for Mexican American Studies | Department of History | The Benson Latin American Collection

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