Chicano-Chicana Heritage Month

The Chicano Moratorium March of 1970

If you're one of those people who keep track of the news, you may have seen where Representative Lou Correa of California reintroduced a resolution that would recognize August as Chicano-Chicana Heritage Month. The resolution is sponsored by more than sixty members of Congress. Representative Correa credits leaders in Orange County, California with bringing the resolution to his attention. A majority of Orange County's population is Hispanic, with the majority of Hispanic people being of Mexican descent. Indeed, of the Latinos in United States, 61.4% of them are Mexican in descent. As to the term "Chicano," it was originally derogatory, but was adopted by Mexican Americans as their own during their fight for civil rights in the Sixties.

Representative Lou Correa noted the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated from September 15 to October 15 each year, but he also said, "Is the Cuban struggle the same as the Mexican American struggle? Probably not. We have similarities, but it's not the same." He noted that Mexican American history is connected to the Southwest, the farmworker movement, fighting for desegregation, and opposition to the Vietnam War.

As to why August should be Chicano-Chicana Heritage Month, it on August 29 1970 that a march conducted by the National Chicano Moratorium Committee Against the Vietnam War took place in East Los Angeles. It drew 30,000 individuals. At the time it was the largest action against the Vietnam War ever taken by one ethnicity.

Personally, I am all in favour of official recognition of Chicano-Chicana Heritage Month. For one thing, I think the heritages of the various people who make up the United States should each be honoured with a month of their own.  While Hispanic Heritage Month certainly is important, as Representative Correa pointed out, I agree with him that we really need a month dedicated to Mexican American heritage. The term "Latino" is rather monolithic, and covers a number of different people with different cultures. For another thing, my dearest friend and a woman I adored, Vanessa Marquez, was a Chicana and very proud of her Mexican heritage. I also have many other close friends who are Mexican Americans and proud of that fact.

Over the years I have written several posts that have dealt with Mexican American culture or individual Mexican Americans. In honour of Chicano-Chicana Heritage Month, I then thought I would post links to a few of the posts I have written dealing with movies, music, and TV shows that feature Mexican Americans or Chicano culture.

"The 75th Anniversary of Ritchie Valens's Birth", May 13 2016

"My Beloved Vanessa Marquez", August 31 2018

"Stand and Deliver Turned 30", October 5 2018

"The Waltons Season 8, Episode 23: 'The Medal'", October 6 2020

"The Ring (1952)", October 8 2022

"The 30th Anniversary of Blood In Blood Out (1993)", April 30 2023

"The 80th Anniversary of the Zoot Suit Riots", June 8 2023

"The 30th Anniversary of the TV Show Culture Clash", July 31 2013