Chicano nationalism
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Chicano nationalism is the ethnic nationalist ideology of some Mexican Americans. While there were nationalistic aspects of the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the Movement tended to emphasize civil rights and political and social inclusion rather than nationalism. For this reason, Chicano nationalism is better described as an ideology than as a political movement.
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[edit] Background
In 1960, the United Nations General Assembly affirmed the right of self-determination for the colonized peoples of the world[1].
Although Mexican-Americans had a rich culture, a distinguished history, had served in every American war, and many had made great strides toward assimilation and economic success, they continued to face discrimination and racial segregation. Some began to question whether assimilation was possible or even desirable. At the same time, a sense of ethnic consciousness and was forming, especially among the youth, around the plight of the farmworkers. Mexican Americans, many of whom began calling themselves "Chicanos" as a symbol of ethnic pride, also began to uncover their history and critically analyze what they learned in public schools.[citation needed] With this new sense of identity and history, many Mexican Americans began viewing themselves as a colonized people entitled to self-determination of their own.
[edit] Quote
The concept of Chicano nationalism is perhaps best articulated in the 1968 Plan Espiritual de Aztlán, generally considered the manifesto of the Chicano Movement[citation needed]. It states,
"El Plan Espiritual de Aztlán sets the theme that the Chicanos (La Raza de Bronze) must use their nationalism as the key or common denominator for mass mobilization and organization. Once we are committed to the idea and philosophy of El Plan de Aztlán, we can only conclude that social, economic, cultural, and political independence is the only road to total liberation from oppression, exploitation, and racism. Our struggle then must be for the control of our barrios, campos, pueblos, lands, our economy, our culture, and our political life. El Plan commits all levels of Chicano society - the barrio, the campo, the ranchero, the writer, the teacher, the worker, the professional - to La Causa."
[edit] Functions and basis
Chicano nationalism allowed Chicanos to define themselves as a group on their own terms, and was a determination on their part to mold their own destiny. It is rooted in the Aztec origin myth of Aztlán, origin myth of Aztlán, a "northerly place". As the Aztecs are central to the conquest and history of Mexico, the use of the word took on the added dimension of the reclamation of an indigenous heritage as part of the decolonization process.
The sense of Chicano nationalism was enhanced by a geographical proximity of the United States and Mexico. Chicanos use name "Aztlán" in reference to territories within the boundaries of the Mexican Cession, the land that was "granted" to Spain in 1493 by Pope Alexander VI in Bull Inter caetera, then claimed in 1821 by Mexican Empire as a (former) American Spanish colony (a claim denied by Spain in 1822), then claimed as "territories" (as opposed to "states", often referred to as "provinces") by 1824 Constitution , and finally ceded to the United States in 1848 as an outcome of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (although it also included Texas, which had earlier proclaimed its independence from the government in Mexico City and was independent territory.)
The commitment to a nationalist ideology allowed Chicano activists to supersede differences that threatened their unity. Mexican Americans had regional, linguistic, age, cultural, and gender differences, all of which were all subsumed to a mutual dedication to the Chicano Movement.
[edit] Criticism
Chicana feminists criticize Chicano nationalism for de-emphasizing the oppression of women in the patriarchical Mexican culture.
Post-movement Chicanos have criticized the shortcomings of the ideology, which naively assumed that autochthony was possible.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Chávez, Ernesto. "Mi raza primero!" (My people first!): nationalism, identity, and insurgency in the Chicano movement in Los Angeles, 1966-1978 Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002. ISBN 0-520-23018-3.
