Chicano Midterm 1

Barrioization

1. Formation of residentially and socially segregated Chicano barrios or neighborhoods

2. Loss of land, decline of the pastoral economy, racial antagonism 

3. Political powerlessness

4. The concentration of Mexican descended populations into barrios

Racial Dualism

1. Belief that society is divided into two distinct racial groups *white and non-white

2. Chicanos were permanently in a lower class compared to Anglos 

3. Chicanos were confined to barrios 

4. Chicanos suppressed their culture and language in order to fit in

Internal Colonialism

1. Robert Baluner’s concept Internal Colonialism: an attempt to explain the explosion of Urban riots across the US 

2. Systemic exploitation and domination of a group within a country 

3. Chicanos were exploited in the labor force 

4. Excluded from political power with little representation 

5. Cultural suppression as they were “inferior” 

6. Racial Discrimination

The Mexican Problem

1. The perceived threat posed by Mexican immigration to the US

2. Two forms: Economic and Social

3. Economic: Mexicans pose a threat to Anglo employment 

4. Social: posing a threat to superior American values 

   1. “Undoing” of America

The myth of the Alamo

1. Historical myth that tries to justify the Texas insurrection 

2. The myth made it seem like Alamo was a war for freedom when it wasn’t

3. It was American Colonist vs Mexican Army over slavery

4. Mexico wanted to abolish slavery and America didn’t

Proletarianization

1. The creation of an unemployed/underemployed, displaces, and unskilled/semiskilled Chicano working class 

2. Couldn’t get jobs because Anglo labor force viewed Chicanos as unskilled, manual laboring workforce 

3. Exploited for cheap labor 

4. Couldn’t get jobs because they couldn’t speak, read, or write English

Cultural Deficiency

1. Belief that certain minorities lack cultural traits necessary for success in society

2. Chicanos were stereotyped as uncivilized and inferior 

3. Chicano students were given less resources in school 

4. Chicano culture was viewed as inferior which was discriminatory 

5. Few job opportunities, lower wages

Adaptation

1. Replaced all widespread fiestas with smaller neighborhood entertainment 

2. Ex: from Bear-bullfight they now have cockfights, games of horsemanship, and impromptu horse breaking traditions

3. Helped preserve culture and fostered community

Gerrymandering

1. Achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency 

2. Diluted voting power in Chicano communities by split them up into different districts 

3. Since they were split they had less voices making it harder to vote

4. Made it hard for Chicano votes to gain political power