Overview
This lecture discusses the 1968 East Los Angeles high school walkouts, highlighting Mexican-American students' fight for educational equality, the resulting Chicano movement, and its ongoing impact.
Background: Educational Inequality
- East LA schools were segregated and referred to as "Mexican schools."
- Speaking Spanish in school resulted in corporal punishment, aiming to force assimilation.
- Teachers often mocked Mexican-American students' names and had low expectations.
- The curriculum prepared students mainly for manual labor or domestic roles.
- Mexican-American students faced high dropout rates and limited college encouragement.
- Girls were discouraged from pursuing education beyond high school.
Organizing for Change
- Students, activists, and teacher Sal Castro organized to demand better education.
- Sal Castro emphasized pride in Mexican culture and history.
- The group drafted a list of demands for the Board of Education, which was ignored.
- Inspired by other social movements, they decided to stage walkouts ("blowouts").
The Walkouts and Community Response
- Walkouts began at Lincoln High School and quickly spread to other schools.
- Over a thousand students participated initially; the protests grew to 15,000 students.
- Police responded with violence and arrests; the community, clergy, and unions joined in support.
- The walkouts lasted more than a week.
Aftermath and Legal Repercussions
- Some student demands were met, such as hiring more bilingual staff.
- Thirteen organizers, including Sal Castro, were arrested and charged with conspiracy.
- Undercover police infiltrated activist groups.
- Protests led to Sal Castro’s reinstatement as a teacher.
- Most serious charges were later dismissed as violations of the First Amendment.
Legacy of the Walkouts
- The walkouts marked the start of a national Chicano civil rights movement.
- Actions inspired similar protests in other states.
- Over time, Mexican-Americans gained political representation and higher college attendance.
- Ongoing disparities in education and representation remain, but significant progress continues.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Chicano — a chosen identity for Mexican-Americans seeking social change and cultural pride.
- Blowout (Walkout) — a mass protest in which students leave school to demand rights.
- Sal Castro — influential Lincoln High School teacher and walkout organizer.
- East LA 13 (LA-13) — thirteen walkout organizers charged with conspiracy.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the specific demands presented by the students to the school board.
- Research current educational disparities affecting Mexican-American students.
- Reflect on ongoing reforms and remaining challenges in educational equality.