The author recounts his reasons for becoming a political activist, and reviews what progress he has made

The Making of a Chicano Militant: Lessons from Cristal (Wisconsin Studies in Autobiography)

Biographies & Memoirs

Gutièrrez, Josè Angel

Historical

Univ of Wisconsin Pr

Texas, for years, was a one-party state controlled by white democrats. In 1962, a young eighteen-year-old heard the first rumblings of Chicano community organization in the barrios of Cristal. The rumor in the town was that five Mexican Americans were going to run for all five seats on the city council. But first, poor citizens had to find a way to pay the $1.75 poll tax. Money had to be raised—through bake sales of tamales, cake walks, and dances. So began the political activism of José Angel Gutiérrez. Gutiérrez's autobiography, The Making of a Chicano Militant, is the first insider's view of the important political and social events within the Mexican American communities in South Texas during the 1960s and 1970s. A controversial and dynamic political figure during the height of the Chicano movement, Gutiérrez offers an absorbing personal account of his life at the forefront of the Mexican-American civil rights movement—first as a Chicano and then as a militant. Gutiérrez traces the racial, ethnic, economic, and social prejudices facing Chicanos with powerful scenes from his own life: his first summer job as a tortilla maker at the age of eleven, his racially motivated kidnapping as a teenager, and his coming of age in the face of discrimination as a radical organizer in college and graduate school. When Gutiérrez finally returned to Cristal, he helped form the Mexican American Youth Organization and, subsequently the Raza Unida Party to confront issues of ethnic intolerance in his community. His story is soon to be a classic in the developing literature of Mexican American leaders.

University of Wisconsin Press

This text presents a thematic approach with abundant pedagogy to help students learn the material. A strong participation theme makes use of vignettes and examples to highlight individuals who have made a difference in Texas politics and helps to emphasize the positive impact dedicated citizens can have on the political process. A second theme focuses on Texas as compared to other 'megastates'--large, urbanized industrial states such as California, New York, and Florida.

Texas Politics: Individuals Making a Difference

History

Miller,Eric

Momayezi, Nasser

Stouffer, Jr. W. B.

Billeaux, David M.

Military

Wadsworth Publishing

This dynamic approach to Texas Politics combines a motivational writing style with inspiring chapter-opening vignettes of average citizens who are working to improve the political process in Texas. Popular with students and instructors alike, this theme of individual participation empowers students and encourages citizenship. Also contributing to the text's thematic framework are the view and comparison of Texas as a "megastate" --a large urbanized industrial state. Like California, New York, and Florida, Texas faces certain unique challenges, such as reforming elections and establishing home rule for counties. Texas Politics, 3/e, also features substantial coverage of policy issues, with chapters dedicated to criminal justice, education, social services, and the budget. The Third Edition has been thoroughly updated with current data, examples, and topical discussions.

Education & Teaching

Schools & Teaching

Cengage Learning'

Chicanas in Charge: Texas Women in the Public Arena

No state has a greater density of Chicano community leaders and politicians than does Texas. This study examines the lives and politics of a distinguished group of Chicana women who have risen to positions of power. The authors profile women who serve in various public capacities―federal judges, candidates for Lieutenant Governor, a statewide chair of a political party, and members of school boards and city and county governments. The diverse careers of these women offer rare glimpses of the kinds of struggles they face, both as women and as members of the Chicano community. Chicans in Charge will be of great value to those interested in gender studies, political science, local government, public policy, oral history, biography, and Chicano studies.

Meléndez, Michelle

Noyola, Sonia A.

Community & Culture

AltaMira Press

We Won't Back Down: Severita Lara's Rise from Student Leader to Mayor

San Val

For the past 40 years, the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) has been on the forefront of advocacy to improve opportunity in higher education for US persons of Mexican origin. Chicano faculty at the University of Texas, together with a few Chicano students, organized the group’s first gatherings in 1974, and since then, TACHE has held thematic annual conferences that signal its mission and program focus and allow professional networking. Chicano faculty and students in colleges and universities have increased, but much still remains to be done. Although funding for education is drastically being cut, Chicano and Latino students are at the front door of higher education, and the number of college-ready students is reaching significant levels across the nation. The official designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), for schools with Chicano and Latino student enrollment in excess of 25 percent, has become a badge of honor among colleges and universities.

The Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (Images of America)

Arts & Photography

Gutierrez, Natalia Verjat

Photography & Video

Arcadia Publishing

For the past 40 years, the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) has been on the forefront of advocacy to improve opportunity in higher education for US persons of Mexican origin. Chicano faculty at the University of Texas, together with a few Chicano students, organized the group's first gatherings in 1974, and since then, TACHE has held thematic annual conferences that signal its mission and program focus and allow professional networking. Chicano faculty and students in colleges and universities have increased, but much still remains to be done. Although funding for education is drastically being cut, Chicano and Latino students are at the front door of higher education, and the number of college-ready students is reaching significant levels across the nation. The official designation of Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), for schools with Chicano and Latino student enrollment in excess of 25 percent, has become a badge of honor among colleges and universities.

Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education

Americas

Arcadia Publishing Library Editions

Cultural Writing. Latino/Latina Studies. JosA[a¬A Angel GutiA[a¬Arrez is the firebrand civil rights leader of the 1960s and 70s who succeeded in making a minority-based political party a reality in Texas and various other states. In 1970, GutiA[a¬Arrez led La Raza Unida Party to stunning victories in Crystal City, Texas and surrounding communities, with Mexican Americans winning all contested seats on the city council and school board, seats held for decades by Anglos. Despite GutiA[a¬Arrez's total commitment to la causa, he found time to write in order to share his political wisdom. Originally self-published during the heat of the Chicano Movement, A GRINGO MANUAL ON HOW TO HANDLE MEXICANS, now expanded and revised, is a humorous and irreverent manual meant to educate grass-roots leaders in practical strategies for community organization, leadership and negotiation. Jose Angel Guitierrez is currently a professor of political science at the University of Texas at Arlington.

A Gringo Manual on How to Handle Mexicans (Hispanic Civil Rights (Paperback))

Politics & Social Sciences

Politics & Government

Arte Publico Press

A tongue-in-cheek how to guide written by a hero of the Chicano movement for the education of grass-roots leaders Under this somewhat threatening title, the renowned civil rights leader Jose Angel Gutierrez provides a guidebook to minority empowerment through the use of analysis, practical experience and anecdote. His primary goal is the conversion of Latino demographic power into educational, economic and political power. In an incisive introduction, Gutierrez analyzes the types of power and evaluates Chicano and Latino access to power at various levels in U.S. society. In very plain, down-to-earth language and examples, Gutierrez takes pains to make his broad knowledge and experience available to everyone, but especially to those who want to be activists for themselves and their communities. For him the empowerment of a minority or working-class person can transfer into greater empowerment of the whole community. This manual penned by the founder of the only successful Hispanic political party, La Raza Unida, brings together an impressive breadth of models to either follow or avoid. Quite often, Gutierrez's voice is not only the seasoned voice of reason, but also that of humor, wry wit and satire. If nothing else, The Chicano Manual on How to Handle Gringos is a wonderful survey of the Chicano and Latino community on the move in all spheres of life in the United States on the very eve of its demographic and cultural ascendancy.

Chicano Manual on How to Handle Gringos (Hispanic Civil Rights (Paperback))

Social Sciences

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