Chicano Studies 1A Midterm

Settler Colonialism

A type of colonialism where the original settlers are displaced by the colonizers, who are permanently settling down there. We saw this with the Native Americans when the original settlers came, and again during the Westward expansion into Mexican territory. The settlers pushed the Mexican inhabitants out to create their own farms, only to rehire Mexicans as slaves.

Genocide

A systematic way to wipe out a group of people based on their identity through violence, displacement, or cultural erasure. An example of this we saw in class was the Spanish missions’ attempt to erase the Chumash people, which led to the Chumash Revolt of 1824. This is important because it shows the Indigenous resistance to colonial oppression and the fight to preserve their identity and culture.

Settler Gaze

How settlers see and represent indigenous people in order to keep them inferior to them and keep them in control. Settlers will spread misinformation in order to increase and justify their superiority. An example of this is during the Sleepy Lagoon Case, the Chicano people are accused of being born with “violent tendencies” in their blood from the Aztecs.

Toypurina

She was an activist best known for her involvement during the Mission San Gabriel uprising. She served as a diplomat between villages, gathering people and support for the rebellion against the settlers. She is a testament to the counter-colonialism integrational storytelling.

Manifest Destiny

White settlers’ delusion of thinking it is their “God given right” to conquer land from “sea to shining sea”. Manifest Destiny is the mindset that started the Westward expansion to colonize as much land as they could. This resulted in the killing and uprooting of the Mexican people.

U.S.-Mexico War

The war resulting from the annexation of Texas during the Westward expansion. U.S. wanted to continue to expand into Mexico territory, but the Mexicans were fighting back. This resulted in Mexico losing half of its territory to the U.S. The war cumulated in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, reshaping North America’s political and ethnic boundaries. Discussed during the lecture.

Operation Wetback

An immigration law enforcement initiative that mass-deported millions of Mexicans over the new political border, back to Mexico, through buses. Many of the Mexican people who were deported were American citizens. This was under President Eisenhower and created by Army Lieutenant Joseph Swing in 1955. Discussed in lecture and shown in “Harvest of Loneliness”.

1824 Chumash Revolt

This revolt was triggered by the murder of an indigenous boy by a church member. It was a massive uprising and burning of a mission from Mission Santa Ines to La Purisma and to Mission Santa Barbara. It was an act of resistance against colonization, fighting against the mission’s control over the Chumash people and land. Discussed in Whitebear’s “Resisting the Settler’s Gaze”. 

Mexican Repatriation/Mass Deportations (1930s)

During the depression, the vast majority of Americans struggled financially due to mass unemployment, creating fears that immigrants were taking jobs that were made for American Citizens. A series of government voluntary and involuntary deportations of Mexicans/Americans in the range of millions to hundreds of thousands were carried out due to the fear of immigrants taking up jobs (Democracy Now). Due to a lack of due process, many American families were ripped apart, and citizens were sent back to Mexico.

Jaime Alanís García

A person who died fleeing ICE in Ventura County back in July. He fell 30ft off the roof of a greenhouse. Her death raised questions about migrant rights, state violence, and exposes how immigrants are being treated in the US. This was discussed in class during the first lecture.

Carlos Roberto Montoya

He was another victim while fleeing ICE this year. He got struck by a car while fleeing from Home Depot, where he was trying to find work as a laborer. Similar to Jaime’s death, his death brought light to the reality of living as a immigrant and how they are being mistreated by the US. His death was also discussed in class.

ICE Raids Central Coast (July 2025)

ICE was sent to Ventura and Santa Barbara County to capture and deport immigrants. They used gas grenades, rubber bullets, flash bombs, and other forms of violence to break up protests. They are using the Latino Threat Narrative to justify their actions and to persuade others to help them. This was also discussed in lecture. 

Gloria Anzaldúa (Arrebato)

Her “7 Stages of Conocimiento” explains that an intense life experience causes the shattering of the mind, heart, body, and soul. This was discussed in class, where Dr. Ralph further explained how he experienced this during the death of his grandmother. 

Latino Threat Narrative

This narrative infects the mind with the fear that Latinos are a threat to American society by stealing all the jobs that should be for white people. Many racist leaders use this narrative to justify their harmful actions and to make their followers more fearful and against Latinos. This was one of the first readings we did in class and is an overarching theory that is regularly referenced throughout this class.

Percarity

The state of being in an insecure economic situation or living a bare life. This is seen in “A Better Life”, “Salt of the Earth”, and “Harvest of Loneliness”. A person living in a state of percarity is often mentally affected as well, often developing anxiety and feeling vulnerable. The lack of control they have over their lives and the unpredictability of it make it hard.  

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

This treaty was used to end the US and US-Mexico War. Mexico surrendered after the capture of Mexico City, and this cost them about 55% of their territory. The US gained this land as part of its westward expansion. We learned about this in lecture during class.  

Indio Muerto/Hutash Street

This was a street in Santa Barbara previously named Indio Muerto, which translates to “dead indian”. This was in reference to the indigenous Native American tribe that resided here before, the Chumash. The street name was changed in 2020 to Hutash Street, which is a Chumash word that means “Mother Earth”. The name change was a result of years of protest, and this shows that the settler’s gaze and settler colonialism still exist in the present day. We learned about this in lecture. 

Mexican Revolution

A revolution that took place in 1910 and lasted until 1920 against the dictator. The people were tired of social, political, and economic inequalities that were set by the dictator and banded together to overthrow it. This was discussed in lecture. 

Hijas de Cuauhtémoc

Name of two separate groups: one was a revolutionary feminist group in Mexico in the early 1900s, and the other was a Chicana feminist student newspaper in California in the 1970s. The revolutionary group fought in the Mexican Revolution to overthrow the dictator and to bring democracy to Mexico.

Madison Grant (Passing of the Great Race)

Author of “Passing of the Great Race” a book that promoted the superiority of the Nordic race. He used pseudoscience to support his racist claims, and this attacked Mexicans and other non-white immigrants, and influenced and legitimized many racist laws and policies. We learned about this in class. 

Lemon Grove Incident

In 1931, Mexican-American parents in Lemon Grove, CA, sued the schools for segregating their children and won the first US desegregation case. This was discussed in lecture as well as in the Mendez vs. Westminister case. 

Mendez v. Westminster

Between 1946 - 1947, the Mendez family, along with multiple other families from Orange County, sued the school districts for segregating the Mexican-American students. The courts ruled on behalf of the families and ended school segregation for Mexican Americans in California. It also influenced the Brown vs. Board of Education case that desegregated schools in the entire nation.

Sleepy Lagoon Case

A group of young Mexican Americans were wrongfully accused and charged with murder for the death of Jose Diaz. The jury claimed that Chicano people have a natural tendency for violence because of their “Aztec blood”. This case was referenced in the movie “Zoot Suit”.

Sleepy Lagoon Defense Committee (SLDC)

This committee fought to prove the innocence of the young Mexican Americans and the bias of the jury. The group was made up of Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and other minorities. They raised funds, highlighted the lack of evidence, and the judge and jury’s bias. They were successful in freeing all those who were wrongfully accused and marked one of the first times a multi-cultural group was created to advocate for other POC. 

Bracero Program

An agreement between the US and Mexican governments that allowed the transportation of Mexican workers across the border to work on US agricultural farms, railroads, and other labor-intensive work to earn money. They help keep the US economy up while the US men were fighting in WWII. We discussed this in class and also saw how the program operated in “Harvest of Loneliness”. 

Ernesto Galarza

Civil rights activist and labor organizer who played a key part in the Bracero Program by helping form the United Farm Workers of America. We learned from “Harvest of Loneliness” that he advocated for civil and labor rights for migrant workers.

Harvest of Loneliness (film)

A film that documented the Bracero Program and highlighted the hardships and inhumane treatment of the workers. They interviewed the men who experienced the program firsthand and their families. We watched part of this film in class and witnessed the percarity those people faced. 

Tim Hernadez

Author of “All They Will Call You”, his book becomes a documentation of the 1948 crash that took the lives of 28 Mexicans. He uplifts the stories of the family members of those who passed away, and uses counter-colonial intergenerational storytelling to talk about the deportees.

Jose Sanchez Valdivia

We learned about him in “All They Will Call You” and about his dream of becoming a baseball player. He and his friend, Jose Sanchez Gonzalez, would play baseball together after a full day working in the field. He wasn’t supposed to be on the plane, but switched places with his friend’s cousin. He dreams of a better life, but cannot escape his bare life. 

Luis Miranda Cuevas

Another bracero was killed in the plane crash. We learned about him in “All They Will Call You” from his past lover, Casimira, and about their plans to get married with an elaborate wedding when he returned to her. He was also not able to escape his bare life. 

Frank and Bobbie Atkinson

A couple that worked the plane that crashed in the Los Gatos. Frank was the pilot that learned how to fly in the army, and Bobbie was a flight attendant who was pregnant at the time. Bobbie’s parents were immigrants from Poland. We learned about them in the book “All They Will Call You” by Tim Hernandez. 

Deportee song (Woody Guthrie, Martin Hoffman, Pete Seeger)

This song called out the dehumanization of Mexian-American workers who are deported back to Mexico after their work is over. They are stripped of their name and identity when they are referred to as “deportees” and nothing else. This song encouraged Tim Hernandez to write the book “All They Will Call You”.

Guadalupe Ramirez Lara

One of the braceros killed in the plane crash. During the new reporting of the victims, they misspelled his name in the report, changing it from “Lara” to “Laura”. This mistake showed that their carelessness and how they did not care. He left behind a wife and two children. 

Ramon Paredes Gonzalez

Another bracero was killed in the plane crash. Ramon and Guadalupe went to the US together to raise enough money to bring back to their hometown to build a well. Ramon and Guadalupe fought and killed a man together to protect Charco de Pantoja when he threatened to take it by force. He left behind a wife and six children. 

Casimira Navarro Lopez

Luis’s past lover was anticipating his return because he promised he would marry her and give her an extravagant wedding. She recalled their love story for the writing of “All They Will Call You”. Hernandez noted that she lit up when thinking about Luiz and told the story as if she was reliving it and as if it happened just yesterday. She thanked Hernandez for asking about Luis because she said she had not thought back to him like that in a long time. 

Luisa Moreno

Latina labor and civil rights activist in the US during WWII and the Great Depression. She was born into an affluent Guatemalan family, became a communist party labor organizer, was a part of the El Congreso, and was eventually targeted by the FBI. Due to this, she returned to Guatemala and became the first Latina vice president of a major union. We learned about her in lecture. 

Josefina Fierro de Bright

1st gen UCLA student who wanted to become a doctor, but dropped out to become a full time El Congreso organizer, focused on intersectional activism, resisting deportation, labor rights, women’s rights, ethnic studies, and more. We learned about him in lecture. 

Emma Tenayuca

American labor leader, civil rights activist, union organizer, and educator. She is best known for leading the strike by pecan pickers in 1938 to raise their wages to 5 cents per pound. She taught immigrant students how to read and write for years. We learned about her from the poem “La Pasionaria”

Esperanza Quintero

Main character in “Salt of the Earth”. Her husband was one of the miners that striked for safer working conditions (same as the white miners), and when the men were banned from striking, the women stepped up. She supported her husband, even when he was sexist towards her, and fought for women to have better sanitation as well. The actress was threatened with deportation during the filming of the movie, and ended up self-deporting after the film was made. 

Salt of the Earth Strike

The Mexican miners went on strike for safer working conditions. They wanted the same safety protocols that the white miners had, but were banned from striking, so the women stepped up. This movie highlighted the strength of unions and female activism and power. It showed that the unification of minorities is needed for reform.

Cold War/Red Scare/Mine-Mill Workers Union

The Cold War and Red Scare occurred during the 1950’s when the US and Russia were fighting through nonphysical threats. The US and Russia both had nuclear weapons they used to threaten one another with, and the US was scared of communism “infiltrating” their country. This put the US in a delusional phase where they deemed anyone they did not like or agree with a communist. The Mine-Mill Workers Union fought for sanitation, workers’ rights, and safety concerns, but their leaders were thought to be communists due to the Red Scare. We saw a clip of this in class when a man was confronted with giving up his friends in front of a judge and jury.

Intersectional Justice

Justice for multiple forms of injustice at the same time. This could mean battling racism, sexism, classism, and more. Focusing on fighting one form of injustice does not mean that the others should be ignored. An example of this was seen in “Salt of the Earth” when Esparanza fought for safer mining protocols as well as better sanitation for the women. 

Dolores Huerta

Worked with Cesar Chavez to co-found the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), which later turned into the United Farm Workers. Activist that advocated for migrant worker’s rights. Alive and still grinding. Labor and feminist activists. 

Intergenerational Activism

Activism that calls on people of different generations to come together and combat the problem. They all want change for a better future. An example of this was near the end of the movie “Walkout” when Paula and her schoolmates are protesting and their families emerge from around the corner on the street to join in on the protest.

Paula Cristosomo

MC in the “Walkout” movie; high school student that met with students from other high schools to organize walkout protests to unfair treatment of the students and the erasure of their culture (no speaking Spanish). 

Grassroots leadership and activism

Everyday people coming together to speak out about whats wrong and to advocate for change. The common people actively coming together and demanding change, rather than passively waiting for the government to change. This is a topic we learned about during lecture in class.

Sal Castro

Sal Castro was one of the teachers in “Walkout” who helped the students recognize their potential, encouraged them that they could bring change, and helped them organize the walkout protests. He was a major influence in the students’ lives and was not afraid to put the cause before him when things were getting risky (he got fired from the last school but continues to fight for what he believes in), 

Counter-Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO)

Program made to disrupt domestic political groups that seem to be a threat as they might disagree with the current government. They often used illegal and controversial means to execute their purpose. They would discredit Chicano orgaizations and see them as a “national threat”. We also learned about this in lecture. 

Brown Berets

A group of Mexican American students in East LA high schools formed to show their allegiance to La Raza, a Mexican-American civil rights movement. They were a part of the planning of the walkouts and advocated for social change and the end of discrimination against Mexican American students. They were represented in the movie “Walkout”. 

Chicano Moratorium and Ruben Salazar

A series of anti-Vietnam War protests due to the disproportionate number of Chicano US soldiers dying on the front lines. During one of the protests, Chicano reporter Ruben Salazar was struck in the head with a tear gas projectile, shot by one of the deputies, killing him. We learned about this in class.

Gay Lesbian Latinos Unidos (GLLU):

Established in 1981, before the aids pandemic hit the community. It played a large role in advocating for LGBTQ, racial, and sexual issues during the 80s and beyond. Lydia Otero was the president of GLLU and discussed this in their book “LA Interchanges”. 

Lydia Otero

Author of “LA Interchanges” , Chicanix historian, and activists for multiple minority groups. They advocated for LGBTQ rights along with Chicanx rights. They are a good example of intersectional activism. We read her book for class and learned about her in class.

Lesbians of Color

A group that Lydia Otero joined after moving in LA in 1978. The group was one of the first community building organizations that represented the intersectional struggles of being a person of color and a lesbian. Its story is central to learning about how marginalized communities are found in the history of the city 

Critical Race Theory/Counter-storytelling

Critical Race Theory aims to teach that it is not race and biology that separate the people of the community, but a social construct to demonize those with darker skin, or different hair, or other physical features different from a typical white person. Counter-storytelling is the telling of history from the minority’s perspective in order to correct and illegitimate the colonial settlers’ gaze.

Unidad (film and newsletter)

A  film about the first major Queer and Latin organization focusing on LGBTQ rights, civil activism, and feminist rights. We watched this on our own and discussed a little of it in class.

Coral Alonso and Emma de Paz

Coral Alonso is a 27-year-old mariachi player who sees art in music and protesting. She sees the power of music in protest chants and melodies. Combining music with a positive message breaks barriers. Emma de Paz was a grandmother who was taken by ICE. The Community Power Collectors raised enough money to hire her an attorney and were able to release her from custody, 

Corky Gonazlez/Yo Soy Joaquín (poem)

Poem that was read by Sal Castro to his students in the movie “Walkout”, emphasizing their autonomy and cultural pride. This poem is about Mexican Americans’ struggle for identity, economic justice, and cultural survival. The narrator in the poem represents all Mexican-Americans.