Lexi Keller
Intro to Chicano Studies
15 September 2022
Critical Response #1
The introduction of Chicano studies into school systems was a trying one that has not
been successful in reaching its true goal. While Chicanos studies is a requirement for transfer
to a California State University, it is not a required as a common core in studies in high
school. More students have been attending college, however there is still a large amount that
do not go on to further education, that take an extended break between high school and
college or drop out before completing a degree. The theme with the first week of this course
merely sees the tip of the ice berge of the effort made in the mid 20th century for Mexican-
Americans to be seen and treated as equals within the United States. The fight for equality
does not belong to Mexican Americans alone, however it is their fight that seems the most
unjust.
Zaragosa Vargas takes us on the journey to the trials of the Mexican-American with in
his book Crucible of Struggle. The first few chapters address how the Mexican came to be.
The Spanish conquest of South America and the troubles and constraints that were placed on
to the natives of the land. Through the “interbreeding” of Spanish settlers, indigenous people,
and ‘negro’ slaves, a new caste system had to be developed (Vargas 7). Within this new caste
system, ‘españoles’ elites, españoles workers, the type of mixed Spanish, ending with ‘negro’
slaves and captives (López). This is where the first discrimination against the Mexicans
begin. While the Mexico eventually won independence from Spanish, the roots of the country
had been discriminator to the native people of the land, and the children of mixed race, who
came from the rape of captives and natives.
