Chicano Movement For Beginners

For Beginners

by Maceo Montoya, Ilan Stavans (Foreword)

As the heyday of the Chicano Movement of the late 1960s to early 70s fades further into history and as more and more of its important figures pass on, so too does knowledge of its significance. Thus, "Chicano Movement For Beginners" is an important attempt to stave off historical amnesia. It seeks to shed light on the multifaceted civil rights struggle known as "El Movimiento" that galvanized the Mexican American community, from laborers to student activists, giving them not only a political voice to combat prejudice and inequality, but also a new sense of cultural awareness and ethnic pride.

Beyond commemorating the past, "Chicano Movement For Beginners" seeks to reaffirm the goals and spirit of the Chicano Movement for the simple reason that many of the critical issues Mexican American activists first brought to the nation's attention then--educational disadvantage, endemic poverty, political exclusion, and social bias--remain as pervasive as ever almost half a century later."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, The United States Of America, Audiobook, Latinx

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2016

Reviews

[Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this graphic novel, Maceo Montoya does an excellent job of presenting the reader to the Chicano Movement. I strongly suggest the book to people who are unfamiliar with the movement and its complexities.

[Klmondragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I am Chicano.

[Shirley Kiddo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed listening to this audiobook! I loved it so much, I went and ordered the physical copies! This is an excellent introduction to Chicano history and I would definitely recommend this to those who are looking to reconnect with their Mexican roots but don't know where to start. start with your Mexican American history and go from there!! What makes us Chicanos and who gets to define it? I do want to note that not everyone in Mexico is indigenous and not every indigenous person in Mexico is Aztec! I also liked that it spoke about how even some of the organizers and movements were problematic or had problematic roots. Not a lot of people were aware that Cesar Chavez fought for the people but was also not a big supporter of immigrants! That was so wild..
I can go on and on about this book and how much i enjoyed it and everything I enjoyed.....but it would be like me taking a highlighter to the whole thing.. hahaha

[David Monticalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chicano Movement for Beginners is an accessible and engaging introduction to one of the most influential social justice movements in U.S. history. Written for readers with little to no background, the book clearly explains how the Chicano Movement emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as Mexican Americans organized to fight for civil rights, cultural pride, labor protections, and political representation.

One of the book’s strengths is its ability to connect history to lived experience. It highlights key figures, events, and organizations, such as César Chávez, Dolores Huerta, the United Farm Workers, and student walkouts, while also explaining broader ideas like identity, land rights, education, and resistance to assimilation. The use of illustrations and straightforward language makes complex political and cultural issues easy to understand.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic intro to the Chicano movement. It provides some important information while being easy to comprehend. I appreciated that the author is both able to celebrate the movement for its victories and contribution to civil rights while also acknowledging where the movement fell short especially when it came to women's rights.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a copy of this book during a Goodreads giveaway. I am under no obligation to leave a review or rating and do so voluntarily. I am paying it forward by passing this book along to a family member who I think will enjoy it too.

[J Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Succinct text about chicanx history…i was looking for a refresher on all of the history I’ve learned for the sake of preservation and remembering. I could critique the gaps but this is honestly a great beginners guide #slay!!

[Rolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, approachable yet thorough introduction to an important and criminally under-represented part of our history. A must-read for students in Texas, California and throughout the Southwest.

[Bailey Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful images and easy to read and learn

[daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

great starting point for learning about the history of the chicano movement and all the key people/groups involved

[Diahanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read!! Easy read for students or adults. Great graphics! Informative!