Some Historical Perspectives on the Presence of Chicanos in American History
Description:
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 Alejandro Saenz interviews Dr. Andres Tijerina on the historical perspectives on landownership, military service and the place of anti-Mexican attitudes. Tijerina provides a historical perspective on several issues concerning Chicanos today. He explains the issue of land grants date back to the 1800s, when the Mexican government gave land in the Southwest to its citizens. Today, however, much of those lands are in the hands of Anglos who often cheated or violently coerced Mexicans into giving up their claims. Despite the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which guaranteed Mexican landholdings, religion and culture, the U.S. government has rarely supported Chicano claims to land or protected their right to speak Spanish. While Tijerina does acknowledge that during the battle for the Alamo the Mexican army massacred Anglo soldiers, he argues that the history taught in public schools has presented a biased history, which holds Mexican civilians, many of whom aided the Anglos, responsible for the violence. Moreover, in the years after the Alamo, Anglos murdered thousands of Mexican American men, women and children. Tijerina explains that despite these incidents of violence and discrimination, Mexican Americans have served the United States loyally and valiantly in World War 2, during which they volunteered at much higher numbers than other ethnic group and emerged with distinction and decoration. Yet, despite their patriotism and their service, Chicano servicemen continued to face discrimination. Keywords: 1848, Anti-Mexican Violence, Atrocities, Battle of San Jacinto, Battle of the Alamo, Bilingual Education, Catholicism, Chicano Culture, Chicano Military Service, Chicano Soldiers, Citizenship, Department of Welfare, Discrimination, Goliad, History, Honor, Involuntary Land Sales, Jose Antonio Menchaca, Juan Nepomuceno Seguin, Land Exchange, Land Grants, Land Theft, Lynching, Marines, Masculinity, Medals and decorations, Mexican Army, Mexican War, Mexican-American War, Military Service, Paratroopers, Patriotism, Sgt. Felix Longoria, Southwestern States, Tejanos, Texas Revolution, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, The US-Mexican War, Three Rivers, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Victoria County, Violence, World War II Chicanos. Broadcast date: 1977-04-25.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Saenz, Alejandro (host), and Tijerina, Andrés (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
4/15/1977
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin