The students were up in arms. They took their case for equality to the superintendent, who decided the team should be equal with 3 Anglo students and 3 Mexican American students. The all-Anglo school board denied this compromise after Anglo parents complained. So, the students went to directly to the school board.
Barrios , G. (2009). Walkout in crystal city. Retrieved
from www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-35- spring-2009/feature/walkout-crystal-city
Acosta, T.A. Crystal City revolts.
Handbook of TexasOnline. Retrieved from http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/wmc01
Internet Movie Database. Memorable quotes
from Stand and Deliver.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094027/quotes
Si, se puede.
Yes, we can.
The board finally had a hearing after from the pressure of the government.
Crystal City Walkout of 1969
The students got what they asked for.
Bilingual-bicultural education.Mexican American studies classes.
More challenging classes and cultural celebrations.
seats on the
school board
Student Representative on school board. More teachers.
2,000
Better testing programs. No more home economic and shop classes.
In the 1960's, Mexican American's were at a disadvantage. Though they were a majority in many cities boarding Mexico, local government was controlled by Anglo minority, who were determined to keep themselves in power.
walked in the picket line. Speaking out on the inequalities in the education system.
students
The movement gained more support as elementary and middle schools joined the protest.
One way this was achieved, was though the education system.
Mexican-American students were denied education of their culture, punished for speaking their own language and denied rights to activities.
In Crystal City, Texas, an example of this was the cheerleading squad.
After 3 students made a trip Washington discussing the injustices of Crystal City and to Mexican American students, the Department of Justice was sent to solve the matter.
Only one Mexican-American student was allowed to cheer on the cheerleading squad. The rest of the members were Anglo.
When 2 positions opened, Chicano students were told they could not fill them.
Ganas.
They fought for equality on various issues with the school board.
they
Desire.
And to show the board they were serious, on December 9th, 1969...
-Jaime Escalante
Stand and Deliver, 1988
Walked
OUT
Ganas.
desire
Even though the odds were against them for receiving a quality education, they pushed forward with to get what they deserved.