If there is one impressive achievement that happened throughout the 20th century, it was the cultural evolution of social justice. Along with several wars, American history evolved to be more inclusive and tolerant of those who weren't specifically white males. Among those that aren't often explored is the Mexican heritage, of which went about impressive changes in the decades following World War II. In Lorena Oropeza's nonfictional account of "Chicano Protest and Patriotism," she manages to find that the exploration of identity was a big part of their time finding ways out of the war. It's an informative and engaging read, and one that helps to add light to one side of civil rights history that is often ignored.
The book opens with a chapter detailing the Mexican image around World War II. While the book focuses predominantly afterwards on Vietnam, it was during this period that the roots were in place. Much like blacks, Mexicans had a negative light to them and racist caricatures filled entertainment. It was during the war that they found pride and were able to be seen as strong. It was a logic that they would take to their protests, which contradicted the previous generation's value that being a veteran was the highest honor that one could get. Instead, it was about fighting the war at home: the racism and institutional oppression that they faced, predominantly in the southwest region of the states.
Oropeza's account is well researched and places the reader into an understanding of each important moment of the 1960's and 70's protests. From the in depth account of why certain imagery stuck with the marchers to the names who published a shared opinion; this is the story of how a group fought for self-worth in the face of an uphill battle. By the end, there's no clear answer as to how effective their protests were long term. In fact, certain facets shut down due to shrinking popularity. However, it planted the seeds for the desire to be prideful and as free as the other races within the country. It may have had some problematic steps, but the culture was finally getting the respect that it deserved.
Like most nonfictional texts, there's a certain dryness to the reading. Since the book is extremely niche, the 200 pages also feature a fair amount of redundancy when it comes to its established themes. Even then, it helps to drive the point home and give the reader a deeper understanding of the Chicano movement. It doesn't leave out any detail no matter how negative it may be. Instead, it paints a picture that makes the reader feel like they were there experiencing the events. It may not be the most engaging text, but it definitely will inform those who want to learn more about a moment in American history that hasn't gotten a severe amount of public conversation.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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