In this installment of Chicano/a History 101 Allen and Elias discuss the Zoot Suit Riots. This event was a huge moment in our history and is also one of the more well known. They dig a little deeper into the riots and find out why they started and why it was a crucial turning point in the history of the Chicano/a community. Allen and Elias also discover that the name "Zoot Suit Riots" isn't actually accurate to the events... listen to find out why.  

In this episode, Iliana is back (as a guest host) and we talk to Jessica and Manuel from the Institute of Chicano/a/x Psychology and Community Wellness about how mental health has played a part in the history of our community and how we can approach the subject going forward.

Institute of Chicano/a/x Psychology and Community Wellness Contact:

Website - razapsychology.org

Instagram - @xicanpsych

Original Music by Stephen Castillo

In part 2 of this series we talk to Iliana and Jorge about their experiences growing up in California, Texas, and Mexico. We compare education and cultures in these different regions. 

Books mentioned in this episode:

Entre el Sur y el Norte

Mexico Profundo by Guillermo Bonfil Batalia

Original Music by Stephen Castillo

In this first part of two episodes, we are talking about what it's like to grow up as a Chicano/a in different parts of the country. For these two episodes we are focusing on California and Texas. We are talking with Tina Hernandez and Michael Muñoz about their experiences.

In this slightly World Cup themed episode, Elias talks with Richie Contreras (from @otraxfavor) and Mike Garza about the way fútbol (or soccer) has impacted their lives and what comes into deciding whether to root for the Mexican or United States national teams (or both?). 

Original Music by: Stephen Castillo (@casti11o__)

In this episode Elias and Allen discuss the relatively unknown story of the El Paso Middle School Walkouts. These walkouts were triggered when a group of middle school students in El Paso, TX lost their teacher who was the only one that supported them and their education. This is a very early example of how the education system in this country has been unkind to minorities (to say the least). 

Original Music by Stephen Castillo

Book referenced in this episode -

Rewriting the Chicano Movement: New Histories of Mexican American Activism in the Civil Rights Era

Edited by Mario T. Garcia & Ellen McCracken

In this episode we talk to artist Ruben Esquivel and activist Monica Maldonado about the importance of art and activism in our community. They also give some advice for aspiring Chicano/a artists.

Contacts:

Ruben Esquivel:

Instagram - @_esquivel

Monica Maldonado:

Instagram - @mascultura

Email - [email protected]

In this episode we go over a brief history of the terms Mexican American and Chicano. We also discuss the newer term of Chicanx and why it can be seen as divisive among the community.

Elias and Allen discuss their upbringings and how it felt to grow up living in between two cultures. We want to start the conversation of "What does it mean to be Chicano/a?".

An introduction to what we are trying to accomplish with this podcast. We want to start conversations around what it means to be Chicano/a.