Goals Of The Chicano Movement

The reaction to the years of oppressive feelings sparked the third aspect of Chicano identity, organization. Political and social organizations is obviously not unique to the Chicano movement, but it is a huge part of the movement that it must be mentioned. Political organizing for Mexican Americans began long before the Chicano movement. Organization like the Order Sons of America, Order Knights of America, and LULAC founded in the early 20th century with goals of assimilating into American culture and desegregation in schools. It was not just organizations like LULAC that inspired the assimilating, “…the Americanization campaign as well as pressures from the public schools,” pushed for Mexican American to learn English and adapt culturally (Zamora 136). However, the goals of the Chicano movement shifted from the past organizations.

The goals of desegregation and equality transcended the generations as it was still a goal Chicanos hoped to solve. The way they organized themselves greatly differs from earlier generations. The younger generation was inspired by the Civil Rights movement as well as the Black Panther Party. The Brown Berets, very much inspired by the Black Panthers, dressed in a military look that was intimidating and empowering to the Chicanos (Dallas Historical Society, 26). Similarly, as with the Black Panthers, the Brown Berets were reacting against injustice. Changing the manner in which a dominant group treats minorities takes a long time. Dallas Texas schools began, “…to hire extra counselors and teachers to help establish better cultural understanding and minority relationships,” (Dallas Historical Society, 26). These small steps in the right direction was the goal that the Chicanos yearned for themselves and for their