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: Linda Fregoso discusses the gains made by the Chicano Movement with Professors Rudy de la Garza and Gilbert Cardenas. Fregoso argues that while the movement opened the doors to higher education and equal employment for many, Chicanos still have a long way to go. De la Garza explains that the Chicano Movement certainly helped the U.S. become more democratic and increased Chicano political participation. Yet as Cardenas points out, now Chicanos must protect their political rights and continue initiating new projects. The guests then discuss some of the criticisms lobbied at the movement and its strategies, and they discuss the importance of affirmative action policies and equal opportunity programs. They also argue that Chicanos should continue to work within the system when that is the most effective strategy, and they praise the efforts of Chicano politicians who are often working behind the signs to support local improvements or promote legislation that serves the Chicano community. The two professors then discuss the case of Crystal City, where Chicano residents voted the Raza Unida Party into political office but found that without economic power, their efforts could still be blocked. Cardenas explains that the Crystal City election improved life for Chicano residents and set an example for other cities. To protect the movement's gains, de la Garza and Cardenas argue that Chicanos should continue to organize at both the grassroots and national level, and they discuss the importance of both strategies. They also look at the various ways Chicano professors are contributing to the community and Chicano relations with the Mexican Government. Keywords: Affirmative Action, Assimilation, Bilingual Education, Budget Cuts, Chicano Movement, Chicano Politicians, Chicanos and Mexico, Chicanos and the Mexican Government, City Services, Coalition Politics, Community Organizing, Congress, Crime, Crystal City, Culture of Poverty, Democracy, Democratic Party, Dropout Rates, Drugs, Education, Electoral Politics, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Gilberto Cardenas, Grassroots Politics, Hispanic Decade, Hunger of Memory, Jose Angel Gutierrez, King Ranch, La Raza Unida Party, Minorities in Higher Education, Neoconservative, Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), Political Activism, Political Participation, Political Science, Poverty, Republican Party, Richard Rodriguez, Rudy de la Garza, San Antonio, Sociology, Third Party Politics, Unions, University of Texas at Austin, Uvalde. Broadcast date: 1982-04-30.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), de la Garza, Rudy (interviewee), and Cárdenas, Gilberto. (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
4/28/1982
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin
sound recordings, grabaciones sonoras, radio programs, programas de radio, and Audio
Extent:
25 minutes, 5 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Educación superior, Movimiento chicano, Affirmative action programs, Programas de acción afirmativa, Chicano Movement, Discrimination in employment, Education, Higher, and Political participation