The Chicana/O Studies Movement on Campus: Popular Protest, Radicalism, and Activism, 1968-1980
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THE CHICANA/O STUDIES MOVEMENT ON CAMPUS: POPULAR PROTEST, RADICALISM, AND ACTIVISM, 1968-1980 By Joseph Gomez Moreno A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree of Chicano/Latino Studies – Doctor of Philosophy 2015 ABSTRACT THE CHICANA/O STUDIES MOVEMENT ON CAMPUS: POPULAR PROTEST, RADICALISM, AND ACTIVISM, 1968-1980 By Joseph Gomez Moreno Chicanalo Studies Movement on Campus focuses on four particular groups protagonists at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB), the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Washington, (UW) and California State University at Northridge (CSUN) and how they formulated organizational and political frameworks for each of their struggles. Chicana/o students, faculty, and community members participated in planning and protesting to compel the university administrations to recognize the Chicana/o Studies academic presence, programs and departments. Fundamentally, these movements attempted to convert Anglo-American universities into multicultural learning institutions. I examine how Chicana/o activists and radicals created and engaged political coalitions at UCB, UCLA, UW and CSUN. I demonstrate how Chicanas/os formulated social and educational movements to implement Chicana/o Studies programs and departments. In this intellectual history, I adopt social movement theory and contextualize the political encounters involving Chicana/o radicals and activists with university administrations. Finally, I offer a critical and historical investigation on how the power behind the culture of the empire responded to and fought to undermine these social movements. Copyright by JOSEPH G. MORENO 2015 I dedicate this dissertation to my wife Julia Cardenas, my parents, Louie and Gloria Moreno, and my brother Dr. Luis H. Moreno III. Also, I dedicate it to the late Ernesto Bustillos, the Tucson K-12 Ethnic Studies Teachers Political and Legal Struggle, and to all the working-class peoples that have been denied a relevant education. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I remember at the end of the first grade, my parents informed me that for the second grade I would be attending special education classes at a different school. For the next two years, I faced discrimination from various students and I was labeled a special education kid. However, after many years of reflecting about my personal experiences during this period, I realized that my parents made the right decision. The outcome of this experience guided the ideological and academic direction of this dissertation and taught me the concepts of struggle, passion, and hard work. In addition, my political and grassroots organizational experience and activism were a major factor in the quest of attaining a doctoral degree from a major Tier 1 research university. The historical origins of this dissertation started over twenty years ago, by spending hours with various activists and organizers discussing the history of Chicana/o Studies and the current issues facing the modern world. First of all, I like to thank my parents Louie and Gloria Moreno for all of their support and encouragement over the years. My parents taught me the value of standing up for what you believe in and never let anyone put you down in the quest of reaching your dreams. Next, I like to show appreciation to my brother Dr. Luis H. Moreno III, for showing me the pathway to Chicana/o History and activism and being one of my life heroes. At times, Luis is my worst critic, but is one of my biggest supporters and without him I would not have finished my dissertation. I like to give a special gratitude to my wife and best friend Julia iv Cardenas, for helping me with the editing process and putting up with my moods and the time away in the last seven years. Julia is one of the major motivations that I did not throw in the towel when trying to finish this critical dissertation. Finally, I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Luis, and Julia; I will never forget our struggles during this personal journey in my life. I like to recognize my late grandmother Margaret Gomez for her support, encouragement, and teaching me the importance of life and being humble about your cultural background. Subsequently, I want to thank the late Ernesto Bustillos for his friendship, support, and the many discussions about the Chicana/o Studies and the significance of grassroots organizing within the Chicana/o working class community. Ernesto’s lifetime passion to political struggle guided my academic and political direction. I wish he lived long enough to witness the completion of this dissertation, but his spirit provided the strength to continue on with the struggle to conclude my doctoral studies. I also, like to dedicate this dissertation to Ernesto for his lifetime political and organizational involvement to the national liberation and self-determination of the working class people of las Americas. Over twenty years ago, I met two great comrades that impacted my political ideology and the direction of this dissertation. I like to show gratitude to my brother Francisco "Chavo" Romero for his friendship, support, and for his commitment to the struggle for social justice and self-determination within the working class community. I remember two young kids who took on the struggle to change the world and never gave up on their political views when all of the odds were against us. Our All Power To The People electoral campaign for city council and school board in 2006 made a huge v impact on our local community and the outcome of this election led me back to graduate school to develop this dissertation. I like to show appreciation to my comrade Pablo Aceves for teaching me how to become a successful grassroots organizer and political strategist. Pablo's lifetime commitment to the political struggle for national liberation and self-determination of the working class people of las Americas guided my passion for social justice and the development of this dissertation. Both Francisco and Pablo have been great friends and they hold a special place in my heart for their dedication to the struggle for social justice. I like to show gratitude to my California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Chicana/o Studies family. First of all, I like to thank my mentor and personal hero Dr. Rodolfo (Rudy) Acuna for believing in my talent and pushing me to become a better historian and scholar. Rudy dedication to the development of the Chicana/o Studies and History guided the academic direction of this dissertation. Next, I like to recognize my second CSUN Chicana/o Studies mentor and good friend Dr. Jorge Garcia for his support, encouragement, and for his love & passion for teaching and learning. My many discussions with Jorge provided research material and guidance in the dissertation process. I like to thank my master thesis advisor Dr. Gabriel Gutierrez for teaching me the significance of historical research and writing, and pushing me to reach my full potential. Also, I want to express gratitude Dr. David Rodriguez, Dr. Mary Pardo, the late Lozano “Toppy” Flores and Dr. Rosa Furumoto for helping me in developing my academic theory, research and writing tools. Finally, I like to dedicate this dissertation to Rudy and Jorge for their long commitment to the struggle for Chicana/o Studies and social justice. vi I like to show appreciation to my Michigan State University (MSU) Chicano/Latino Studies family. First, I like to express gratitude to my dissertation advisor and mentor Dr. Dinoicio Valdes. Dinoicio pushed me to my limit, but he was my biggest supporter and believed in developing my full potential to become a scholar. Dinoicio was a major reason that I was able to finish this dissertation and write this acknowledgment. Secondly, I like to recognize my committee members Dr. Theresa Melendez, Dr. Scott Michaelsen, Dr. Dylan Miner, and Dr. Jerry Garcia for their encouragement and support with the dissertation process. I like to express thanks to my fellow graduate students for providing a support base during my residency at MSU. Also, I like to show gratitude to Dr. Juan Javier Pescador, Dr. Estrella Torrez, and other faculty & staff members that provided the support to conclude my doctoral studies. Finally, I like to thank my best friend Rainer Delgado for his support and friendship over the years. I like to show appreciation to my Estrella Mountain Community College family for their support and providing me the space to finish this dissertation. First, I like to thank my department chair Dr. Pablo Landeros for providing me with an opportunity to teach as an Adjunct Professor and for his encouragement. I like to express gratitude to my good friend Vidal Rivas for his support and friendship over the last two years. Also, I like to recognize my good friends Sean Acre, Rene Martinez, and the other teachers from Tucson, Arizona that never gave up their passion, politics and believes to struggle for an Ethnic Studies program that would change the lives of the local youth and working class community. I like to dedicate this dissertation to the Tucson Ethnic Studies teachers for taking a stand when all of the odds were against them. There are many other individuals that I like to show gratitude, but I will have to vii write a whole book to acknowledge their support. However, I like to recognize my National Association of Chicano and Chicana Studies (NACCS) working partners Dr. Gilberto Garcia, Dr. Raoul Contreras, and Dr. Manuel Hernandez for their support, mentorship, and allowing me the space to discuss my academic ideas and politics. Also, I like to recognize my community college professors and mentors Dr. Tomas Salinas, Dr. Linda Chaparro, and the late Ronald Jackson, for providing the mentorship and training to attain a graduate degree beyond my undergraduate studies.