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: Mario Cantu, the first American convicted for harboring undocumented workers, talks about his activism, politics and exile in Europe. Cantu was fleeing a probation revocation at the time of his fleeing the U.S. He was interviewed in early March, while still in jail. Cantu is now out of jail and his current legal cases are pending. Linda Fregoso conducts the interview in a Bexar County jail where Cantu awaits trial for a parole violation stemming from an earlier trip to Mexico where he filmed a land seizure in Oaxaca. Ignoring his subpoena, Cantu traveled to Paris to conduct a year-long campaign to denounce the violation of Chicano and Mexican human rights in the United States. Cantu explains that in the barrio he was constantly aware of discrimination and widespread poverty, but it was only after serving time in prison that he became politicized. On his return to San Antonio, he became involved in La Raza Unida and several farm worker boycotts. He also started organizing cultural awareness events. At these events, Cantu met with Mexican activists and realized both Chicanos and Mexicanos suffered from similar problems. Cantu elaborates on his international perspective and argues that Chicanos need to identify with the Mexican people and not the government that oppresses them. He believes that if Chicanos really want to free themselves, they need to understand what is happening in Latin America and join in solidarity with those who are struggling. He goes on to criticize the leadership of the Chicano movement who have been co-opted by the Carter administration. He also argues against amnesty program for undocumented workers because they ignore the root of Mexico's problems: capitalism. Keywords: Activism, Afghanistan, Alternative Media, Amnesty International, Amnesty Programs, Barrios, Bexar County, Border Industrialization, Boycotts, Capitalism, Carter Administration, Central America, Chicano Leadership, Chicanos and Latin America, Chicanos and Mexico, El Salvador, Federation in Defense of the Rights of Man, Guatemala, Human Rights, Inflation, La Raza Unida, Land Seizures, League on Human Rights in New York, Leavenworth Prison, Luis Echeverria Alvarez, Mario Cantu, Marxism, Media, Mexican Immigration, Nicaragua, Oaxaca, Paris, Partido Proletaria de Mexico, Police brutality, Political ideology, Political Prisoners, Political repression, Prison, Puerto Rican Nationalism, San Antonio, Texas, Scapegoating, Semana de la Raza, Socialism, Solidarity movements, Third World Movement, Torture, Transnationalism, Undocumented workers, Vietnam. Broadcast date: 1980-03-14.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), and Cantu, Mario (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
3/5/1980
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin