A multi-faceted group of Chicano student activists emerged during the 1960s and 1970s, spurred on by the United Farm Workers, the Black Civil Rights movement and the struggle against the Vietnam War. There was a growing awakening to the political and social injustices being perpetrated against their community, and this new political and cultural consciousness echoed through all aspects of life, leading to direct activism in all aspects of their communities. Second and third generation Chicano youths who had lived and participated in American society were tired of the limited resources available to them. Although the Supreme Court had ordered to end segregation before this decade, nothing had ended the discrimination that schools practice routinely. As a response, the 1960s and early 1970s were the most active …show more content…
During the 1960s and early 1970s, there was a shift in how Chicanos, those who “love[d] the United States for reasons Mexicans [did not] understand, while loving Mexico for reasons Americans [did not] understand,” viewed themselves and their communities. Shame and embarrassment were replaced by pride of their homeland. This paper will discuss the significance of the term ‘Chicano’ and what it means to be Chicano, which began to change during this time. Also during this time, there were many educational reforms that had a deep impact to future generations. This paper will dive into the Chicano students struggle for better educational opportunities during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Lastly, this paper will mention some of the radical ideologies of the Chicano movement, like the reclaiming of the their homeland, Aztlán, that turned some away from the movement, but ultimately was able to survive and adapt to better serve its