The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Host Armando Gutierrez interviews Dr. Tatcho Mindiola Jr., Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston, on new developments in the Chicano Movement and discuss the ways in which the movements have changed since the 1960s. Dr. Mindiola believes issues of identity and labels have become less important in the Chicano Movement. He also notes the emergence of a Mexican American middle class tied to the revival of politically moderate organization, like LULAC. Dr. Mindiola also observes a developing Mexican American intellectual class involved in the universities, publishing and journalism. Moreover, Mexican Americans are now grappling with how they relate to Mexico and Mexicans, including the undocumented workers. Dr. Mindiola concludes that that although the movement has become institutionalized, there is a widespread social consciousness among Mexican Americans that had only been present among the most militant groups in the 1960s. Dr. Mindiola and Gutierrez then discuss the relevancy of the term Chicano and Dr. Mindiola concludes that although some conservative groups have appropriated the term, it still carries well-known political connotations. Dr. Mindiola then discusses the state of Chicano leadership and he explains that the most visible Chicano leaders have achieved fame because they addressed historical issues that plagued Chicanos in their states. Yet because of that specificity, their national recognition has not endured or strengthened the Chicano movement. He believes that Jose Angel Gutierrez and Leonel Castillo are two leaders who continue to command national attention, and he remains optimistic that more will emerge. Keywords: American GI Forum, Assimilation, Black Power, Cesar Chavez, Chicano Movement, Chicano Student Movement, Chicanos, Crusade for Justice, Divisions between Intellectuals and Community, Documented Workers, Education and Assimilation, Hispanics, Immigration and Naturalization Service, INS, Institutionalization of the Chicano Movement, Jose Angel Gutierrez, La Raza Unida Party, Latin American, League of United Latin American Citizens, Leonel Castillo, MAYO, MEChA, Mexican American, Mexican American Educational Council, Mexican American Intellectual Class, Mexican American Middle Class, Mexican American Relations with Mexico, Mexican Americans in Academia, Mexican Americans in Higher Education, Moderate Mexican American, Nomenclature, Parent Teacher Associations, Political Leadership, Publishing Houses, Reies Lopez Tijerina, Robert Allen, Rodolfo Corky Gonzalez, Self-reference, Social Consciousness, Spanish American, Terminology, Undocumented Workers, United Farm Workers Union. Broadcast date: 1979-03-02.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Gutiérrez, Armando (host), and Mindiola, Tatcho, Jr. (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
2/27/1979
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin