Chicano Cinema on Turner Classic Month September 24

Julie Carmen and Chick Vennera in The Millagro Beanfield War

Last month, August, was Chicano Heritage month, a month spotlighting the historical significance of Mexican Americans or Chicanos. The month of August is very significant for Mexican Americans. It was on August 29 1970 that the Chicano Moratorium March protesting the Vietnam War took place in East Los Angeles. It was while covering the Chicano Moratorium March that Los Angeles Times reporter and Mexican American civil rights activist Ruben Salazar was shot and killed by a Los Angeles County deputy.

While Chicano Heritage Month is August, Hispanic Heritage Month (which many prefer to call Latino Heritage Month) takes place from September 15 to October 15. With Chicano Heritage Month having taken place in August and Latino Heritage Month running from September 15 to October 15, on the night of September 24 Turner Classic Movies is showing five movies in tribute to the Chicano community. They include The Milagro Beanfield War (1988), about the conflict between Mexican American farmers and big business; Zoot Suit (1981), a film adaptation of the Broadway play centred around the Zoot Suit riots; Salt of the Earth (1951), the classic film featuring a fictionalised portrayal of the 1950-1952 strike against Empire Zinc; Boulevard Nights (1979), a film about two Chicano brothers, one a respectable citizen with a job and another who is a gang member;and The Cisco Kid (1994), the TV movie that updated "the Robin Hood of the West.."

Below is the schedule for Hispanic Heritage Month: Chicano Cinema on Turner Classic Movies. All times are Central.

Tuesday, September 24:
7:00 PM The Milagro Beanfield War
9:15 PM Zoot Suit (1981)
11:15 PM Salt of the Earth (1951)

Wednesday, September 25:
1:00 AM Boulevard Nights (1978)
3:00 AM The Cisco Kid (1994)