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: In this two-part episode, host Linda Fregoso first interviews Chicano poet, Alurista about the evolution of Chicano poetry. She then speaks with Professor Isidro Ortiz about organizing in Chicano communities. Linda Fregoso first interviews Chicano poet, Alurista, about the evolution of Chicano poetry. Alurista explains that while Chicano's poetry dates to the 19th century, their work was largely confined to local audiences. In contrast, 20th century Chicano poets have been able to reach national audiences. Alurista then traces the thematic development of Chicano poetry. In the 1960s, Chicano poetry largely dealt with contemporary political protests. In the 1970s, it became more retrospective and looked at the decline of the protest movement. Alurista believes that while some poets will continue to focus on art for art's sake, other will seek to tie their poetry to their class and to third world struggles. He argues that this third world orientation has long marked Chicano consciousness and reads Americo Paredes' poem to Augusto Sandino. Fregoso then interviews Professor Isidro Ortiz about Chicano community organizing. Ortiz explains that the early 1960s saw intense nationalist organizing, but the political repression of the 1970s weakened the movement. Activists turned to electoral politics and began to neglect community organizing. Other groups, like the Catholic Church, stepped in and effectively mobilized some sectors of the Chicano population, who fought for increased amenities in their communities. However, these groups have largely ignored the economic issues that Chicanos are still confronting. Moreover, Ortiz explains that the 1970s witnessed a backlash against the civil rights movement. Consequently, Chicanos have struggled to preserve the limited gains of the sixties. Keywords: A Cesar Augusto Sandino, Alberto Baltazar Urista Heredia, Alurista, Americo Paredes, Art, Art and class, Barrio, California, Casa de la Raza, Catholic Church, Centro Cultural de la Raza, Chicano Literature, Chicano Poetry, Chicano Studies, Chicanos in Higher Education, Civil Rights Backlash, Class, COINTELPRO, Community Organizers, Education, FBI, Fear in the Chicano community, Festival de Flor y Canto, La Raza Unida, Literature, Los Angeles, Mass Mobilization, MEChA, Nationalist Movements, Nationchild Plumaroja, Neighborhood Improvement, New Mexico, Nicaragua, Nixon Administration, Police Provocateurs, Political Parties, Property Task, Proposition 13, Protest, Public Schools, Rural migration to Urban areas, San Antonio, San Diego State University, Sandinistas, Santa Barbara, Socially conscious art, South Texas, Spik in Glyph?, Texas, Third World Consciousness, Third World Orientation, Undocumented Workers, University of California Santa Barbara, Urban, Who's who, Working-Class, Ysidro Ortiz. Broadcast date: 1980-05-09.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), Alurista (interviewee), and Ortiz, Isidro D., 1949- (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
5/2/1980
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, 14 seconds
Rights - Use and Reproduction:
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Language:
English
Place of Publication:
Austin (Tex.)
Topic:
Mexican Americans--Politics and government, Mexicano americanos--Política y gobierno, Mexican Americans--Political activity, American poetry--Mexican American authors, Poesía estadounidense--Autores mexicanos americanos, American poetry, Poesía estadounidense, Community organization, and Organización de la comunidad
Time Period Covered:
1980-1989, 1960-1969, and 1970-1979
Place Name:
Mexico, San Antonio (Tex.), Los Angeles (Calif.), Southwestern States, and Santa Barbara (Calif.)
Geographic Coverage:
United States (country), United States (country), and California (state)