Introduction
In many ways, social activism is inseparable from democracy. Democracy, as such, implies the rule of the people, the citizens of the state who consider it their homeland. Understandably, the U.S. has a rich history of social activism, especially considering the human rights developments of the 20th century. Under the close inspection of some of its occurrences, such as the Chicano movement and the Delano grape strike, it becomes apparent how the unwillingness of people to accept unfair treatment and their strength to voice their opinions can bring about significant social change.
Chicano Movement
The Chicano movement of the 1960s symbolized various concepts that were systematically denied to people of Mexican origin in previous decades. For instance, during that time, the bracero program was common in Texas and California. It provided a temporal possibility for Mexican farmers to legally enter the country and work (Henkin & McLennan, 678). Wages under this program were significantly lower than the average American wage, which was particularly beneficial given the country’s participation in World War II and the budget constraints resulting from that war.
Nevertheless, the chance to enter the U.S. was attractive by itself. It is supported by the fact that numerous workers wished to continue their stay, often illegally, which negatively affected their nation’s reputation (Henkin & McLennan, 678). In terms of public opinion, Mexican Americans were frequently misidentified as illegal migrants who managed to avoid deportation. Moreover, systemic discrimination occurrences were also present, such as an attempt to exclude people of Mexican origin from jury duty (Henkin & McLennan, 678).
Understandably, many felt alienated in their home country, resulting in civil rights resistance. This tendency aligned with the analogous movements of other racial minorities, such as the Black Power movement. Namely, Chicano and Black Power leaders promoted the same goals of empowerment and community liberation, often collaborating in developing their resistance strategies (Henkin & McLennan, 709). The solidarity model displayed by Black Power inspired other minorities to act on their inherent rights and advocate for equality.
Delano Grape Strike
The Delano grape strike is one of many resistance activities conducted by Mexican activists. It responded to unreasonably low wages, even lower than the minimum established by federal law. In addition, wage dissatisfaction was strengthened by grape growers’ dismissive attitude toward workers since they worked under the bracero program (Chavez et al., 5).
In this context, various media outlets, such as El Malcriado, supported Delano strikers by publishing evidence from the Mexican perspective or directly calling for action from its readers. Regarding the former, El Malcriado’s editors collected statistical representations concerning the field situation. They interviewed doctors to obtain medical confirmation of labor abuse (Chavez et al., 3). Apart from that, the journal provided summaries of the strike’s current state, posting reactions from authoritative institutions such as the State Board for Agriculture (Chavez et al., 8). This indicates the editors’ concern for their targeted audience’s well-being.
Regarding the direct call to action, El Malcriado did not restrict itself from advertising the strike. According to Chavez et al. (10), editors fully supported “the striking grape workers in their non-violent efforts to organize, to win recognition, and to bargain with their employers.” Such dedication was oriented not only toward striking workers but also to the whole Mexican community. It raised issues in direct connection to the Mexican racial minority in the U.S. territory. Moreover, it appealed to readers’ solidarity by invoking compassion and promoting unity, for instance, by posting individual letters containing evidence of violence against protesters (Chavez et al., 12). Overall, this approach perfectly aligns with the general Mexican resistance movement in the United States at that time.
Protest Culture in the United States
Protest culture plays a vital role in shaping the history of the U.S. As a country proud of its democratic roots, the U.S. acknowledges the right of every U.S. citizen to voice their opinions on what life should be like. The examples of Mexican and black social movements mentioned above perfectly illustrate this right in action. Although it might not have been apparent in the 1960s, today the effect of these protests manifests in great attention to cultural awareness, social inclusion, and diversity.
Another, more recent example of mass protests is the March for Our Lives, which was a response to school shootings in particular and to the issue of gun violence in the U.S. in general (History, 07:45). This is why it can be safely assumed that protests did not lose their validity in the 21st century; their effects, albeit invisible in the short term, might become visible only in the long term, given the time and effort people put into protecting their beliefs and values.
Conclusion
Social change is not a purely abstract concept; social activism is among the tools to make it real. For example, the 1960s in the U.S. are known for civil rights movements and specific protests initiated by racial minorities in their struggle for equality. In this context, the Chicano movement arose as a result of constant public and systemic discrimination against Mexicans.
Along with Black Power, it promoted autonomy and pride in indigenous origins. The Delano grape strike is a particular example of direct opposition to discrimination. Overall, since the results of these movements and their contribution to the American protest culture can be seen nowadays, the value of protests and social activism is still relevant in the 21st century.
References
Chavez, C. E., Itliong, L., & Orendain, A. (1969). Farmworkers, dairymen, growers, and spayers speak out on poisons. El Malcriado: The voice of the farm worker, 2(24), pp. 1-15.
Henkin, M. D. & McLennan, R. (Eds.). (2021). Becoming America: A History for the 21st Century. McGraw-Hill Education.
History. (2021). Historic protest movements in every decade | History by the decade [Video]. YouTube. Web.