Skip to main content
SIGN IN

Lesson

Lasting Legacies of the Chicano Movement

Estoy Aquí: Music of the Chicano Movement (6-8) / Lasting Legacies of the Chicano Movement

Within this final lesson, you will consider legacies of the Chicano movement. Specifically, you will create artwork inspired by an aesthetic notion known as “rasquachismo” and listen to music that explores the long and complicated relationship between immigration and the Mexican American community. Despite setbacks and unfulfilled goals, the general spirit of the movement lives on. During this time, activists set an example of what it looks like to advocate for one's community and work on behalf of the poor, and artists inspired a deep and lasting sense of cultural awareness and pride. Chican@s have claimed their place within this beautiful, diverse tapestry that we call America . . . and their art is a powerful and tangible reminder that they are here, deserve to be here, and will continue to fight for their community and against injustice.

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

  1. Exploring Chican@ Art

    • Describe the defining characteristics of rasquachismo art.
    • Create a rasquachismo-inspired art piece.
    • 30+ minutes

  2. The Issue of Immigration

    • Describe the complex relationship between immigration issues and the Chicana/o community.
    • Identify and demonstrate a rhythmic pattern associated with bolero.
    • 45+ minutes

  3. The Chicano Movement: Coming Full Circle

    • Describe the ways in which your knowledge, skills, interests, and experiences influence your personal musical preferences.
    • Identify several important legacies of the Chicano movement.
    • 20+ minutes

More +
Less -

Bibliography

Text

Anderson, M. (2017). A lesson in “rasquachismo” art: Chicano aesthetics & the “sensibilities of the barrio”. Smithsonian Insider.

Center for History and New Media (2021). Teaching [Activity]. Bracero History Archive.

Daley, J. (2019). One man’s search to find the families of the “deportees” in the famous Woody Guthrie song. Smithsonian Magazine.

Gonzalez, J. (2015, October 15). The big list of discussion strategies. Cult of Pedagogy.

Loza, S. (2019). Barrio harmonics: Essays on Chicano/Latino music. UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press.

Montoya, M. (2016). The Chicano movement for beginners. For Beginner Books.

Reading and Writing Haven (n.d.). 12 powerful discussion strategies to engage students. Reading and Writing Haven: A Blog for Educators.

Rosales, F. A. (1996). Chicano! The history of the Mexican American civil rights movement. Arte Público Press.

Sheehy, D. (2018). Cruzando Borders, by Los Texmaniacs [Liner notes]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Ybarra-Frausto, T. (1989). Rasquachismo: A Chicano sensibility. Chicano Aesthetics: Rasquachismo Exhibition Catalog, 1989. Tomás Ybarra-Frausto research material, 1965–2004. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Audio*

Treviño, R., & Los Texmaniacs (2018). I am a Mexican [Audio recording]. On Cruzando borders [Album]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Video*

Treviño, R., & Los Texmaniacs (2018). I am a Mexican (feat. Rick Treviño) [Video]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Smithsonian Education (2020). Through the barbed wire: Domingo Ulloa’s braceros [Video]. YouTube.

Los Texmaniacs & Lovett, L. (2018). Deportee (feat. Lyle Lovett) [Video]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Los Texmaniacs & Lovett, L. (2018). Lyle Lovett discusses “Deportee” [Video]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Images*

Martinez, E. (n.d.). Cesar Chavez [Pencil on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of the Haynes Family, Jorge, Roxanne, Rebecca and Ben, 1998.155.

Unknown artist (1975). Chicanarte: Statewide exposicion [sic.] of Chicano art, 1975 Sept. 14 [Poster]. In Tomás Ybarra-Frausto research material on Chicano art, 1965–2004 [Archival collection]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 7740.

Pich, T. (2016). Agustín Lira and Alma [Photograph]. In Songs of struggle and hope, by Agustín Lira [Cover art excerpt], cover design by Galen Lawson. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC, SFW40567.

Cross, B. (2011). Quetzal [Photograph]. In Imaginaries [Liner notes], p. 24. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC, SFW40563.

Sheehy, D. (ca. 2009). Los Texmaniacs [Photograph]. In Los Texmaniacs: Borders y bailes [Online article]. Smithsonian Folkways Magazine, Summer 2009. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC.

Strachwitz, C. (1972). Rumel Fuentes [Photograph]. Corridos of the Chicano movement [Liner notes], 2009, p. 2. Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito, CA, ARH00507.

Museo National de Culturas Populares (1987). Del muralismo revolucionario al arte Chicano [Poster]. In Tomás Ybarra-Frausto research material on Chicano art, 1965–2004 [Archival collection]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1743.

Cuellar, R. O. (1974). Chicano art expo poster [Screenprint on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of the artist, 2020.15.

Unknown artist (1989). Chicano aesthetics: Rasquachismo [Exhibition catalog cover]. In Tomás Ybarra-Frausto research material on Chicano art, 1965–2004 [Archival collection]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC., 20312.

Unknown artist (1968). Plywood panel from a mural at Resurrection City [Oil paint and ink on plywood]. National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Vincent DeForest, 2012.110.3.

Sanchez, H., & Garcia, R. (1997). Altar for La Virgen de Guadalupe [Sculpture]. In A lesson in “rasquachismo” art: Chicano aesthetics & the “sensibilities of the barrio” [Online article], by M. Anderson. Smithsonian Insider, 2017. Photograph by Nerin Kadribegovic.

Unknown artist (n.d.). Boycott Campbell’s soup [Poster]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 1984.0796.105.

Viramontes, X. (1973). Boycott grapes, support the United Farm Workers union [Offset lithograph on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, 1995.50.58.

Cortéz, C. A. (1977). Anisinabe Waki-Aztlan [Linoleum cut on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. © 2020, Dora Katsikakis, gift of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, 1995.50.4.

Los Dos de Los, Cervántez, Y. D., & Limón, L. (1988). Estrella of the dawn [Screenprint]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. From the National Chicano Screenprint Taller, 1988–1989, printed by Self-Help Graphics & Art, Inc., gift of the Wight Art Gallery, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 1991.65.7.

Baca, W. (1991). Our Lady of Guadalupe [Paño]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Rudy Padilla, 1991.0431.02.

Unknown artist (ca. 2001). Our Lady of Guadalupe t-shirt [Garment]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Joaquin Martinez, 2009.0172.001.

Unknown artists (n.d.). Chicano power mural protesting the Vietnam War & injustice [Mural]. Dreamstime. Photograph by Randomshots.

Unknown artist (ca. 1962). Pinback button for the National Farm Workers Association [Badge pin]. National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of T. Rasul Murray, 2013.68.4.1-.2.

Almaraz, C. (1986). I dreamed I could fly [Pastel on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Margery and Maurice H. Katz, 2014.44.

Almaraz, C. (1984). Poster for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, CA [Poster]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (through Carol Daniels), 1985.0297.18.14.

Unknown artist (ca. 1960). Si se puede boycott lettuce and grapes [Poster]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. United Farm Workers poster, 1977.0660.08.

Hernadez, E. (1982). Sun mad [Screenprint on paper]. In ¡Printing the revolution! The rise and impact of Chicano graphics, 1965 to now [Online gallery]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, 1995.50.32.

Unknown artist (n.d.). Abierto al publico mural [Mural]. Flickr. Photograph by Salina Canizales, 2014.

Unknown artist (n.d.). Mural in Los Angeles [Mural]. Flickr. Photograph by Salina Canizales, 2013.

Diacritica (2010). 6 sided dice [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.

Unknown artist (2016). Rick Treviño official promotional photo 2016 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. Photo courtesy of Campo Negro Records.

Ulloa, D. (1960). Braceros [Oil on masonite]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Eugene Iredale and Julia Yoo, 2014.20.

Montoya, M. (1980). Undocumented [Screenprint on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC. Museum purchase through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2015.29.2.

U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement (2019). Ice Ero officer badge [Badge artwork]. Wikimedia Commons.

United States Department of Homeland Security (ca. 2003). Patch of the United States border patrol [Embroidered patch]. Wikimedia Commons.

Barrios, B., & Kistler, L. R. (1951). Adiós espalda mojada [Lithograph]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Kistler Collection, 1978.0650.0968.

Unknown artist (1931). Mexican repatriation, 1931 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. From the NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images.

Nadel, L. (1956). Braceros waiting behind fence [Photograph]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC., 2004.0138.09.16.

National Student Committee for Farm Workers (n.d.). Join the boycott - don’t buy Gallo wines [Poster]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Courtesy of Albert Louis Feldstein, 321648.29.

Various artists (2011). Aztlán in the United States [Map]. Wikimedia Commons. Uploaded by Wikimedia user TUBS, derived from CC-licensed images on Wikimedia Commons.

Unknown artist (ca. 1970s). Corky Gonzales [Photograph]. Denver Public Library Special Collections, Denver, CO.

Grossman, S. (ca. 1946-1948). Woody Guthrie [Gelatin silver print]. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. © Miriam Grossman Cohen, NPG.92.60.

Nadel, L. (1956). Braceros boarding buses at the Monterrey processing center, Mexico [Photograph]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 2004.0138.04.26.

Massar, I. (1963). Joan Baez [Gelatin silver print]. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. © Massar Studios LLC, NPG.94.245.

Medina, B. R., & Carrillo, A. (n.d.). 50th anniversary logo [Logo]. Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA. The 50th Anniversary Logo was designed by Bob Rob Medina and adapted by Andrea Carrillo.

Movimiento (n.d.). Ayuda de Collegio de Cesar Chavez [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.

United States Government (n.d.). Flag of the United States [Flag]. Wikimedia Commons.

Unknown artist (2012). Joaquin Castro, official portrait, 113th congress [Portrait]. Wikimedia Commons. United States Government.

Unknown artist (ca. 2014). Julian Castro’s official HUD portrait [Portrait]. Wikimedia Commons. United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Greenfield-Sanders, T. (2010). Eva Longoria [Photograph]. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. © 2010 Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, NPG.2015.29.

Greene, H. (1972). Carlos Santana [Gelatin silver print]. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC., NPG.2006.265. .

*Audio, video, and images listed in order of appearance in slideshow