¡Yo soy Chicano! Exploring Cultural Identity through Music
What is Chicano/a? . . . It’s complicated! Sometimes this term is simply used to describe people with Mexican heritage who are living in the United States. However, its true meaning is much more complex and deeply personal. The term Chicana/o is a celebration! It is a way for people to express the pride they feel about this part of their identity. In this lesson you will delve into the complexities of cultural identity, engaging with several “anthems” that were written during the time of the Chicano movement. Then, you will have a chance to choose and reflect upon an anthem that celebrates and reaffirms one aspect of your own cultural identity.
Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives
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- Identify textual and musical clues about Chicano/a identity.
- Identify the typical instrumentation of música norteña/conjunto
- 25 minutes
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What Was the Chicano Movement?
- Describe several rationales for the Chicano movement.
- 20+ minutes
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Exploring Cultural Identity through Music
- Use music to describe important aspects of your own cultural identity.
- Explore why certain songs became anthems for people who identified as Chicana/o during the Chicano movement.
- Explain how music can celebrate/reaffirm cultural identity and serve as a symbol of cultural pride.
- 30+ minutes
Bibliography
Text
Azcona, E. C., & Rodriguez, R. (2005). Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano movement [Liner notes]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Escobar, E. J. (1993). The dialectics of repression: The Los Angeles police department and the Chicano movement, 1968-1971. The Journal of American History, 79(4), 1483–1514.
Gonzalez, J. (2015, October 15). The big list of discussion strategies. Cult of Pedagogy.
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.
Strachwitz, C. (1995). Chulas fronteras [Liner notes]. Arhoolie Records.
Zettler, J. (2009). Corridos of the Chicano movement [Liner notes]. Arhoolie Records.
Audio*
Fuentes, R., & Los Pingüinos del Norte (1995). Chicano [Audio recording]. On Chulas fronteras & Del mero corazón [Album]. Arhoolie Records.
Conjunto Aztlan (2005). Yo soy tu hermano, yo soy Chicano [Audio recording]. On Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano movement [Album]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Los Alvarados (2005). Yo soy Chicano [Audio recording]. On Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano movement [Album]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, courtesy of Escuela Tlatelolco.
Video*
Blank, L., & Strachwitz, C. (1976). (Directors). Chulas fronteras [Film]. Les Blank Films.
Images*
Montoya, M. (1972). Yo soy Chicano [Screenprint on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Reprinted in collaboration with Dignidad Rebelde, 2013. Gift of Gilberto Cárdenas and Dolores García, 2019.51.1.
Silva, D. (n.d.). To Debbie, brown and proud [Drawing on cotton paño]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC. Gift of A. Rudy Padilla, The Hourglass Prison Art Museum, 1998.126.10.
Dilts, D. (2009). United States - Mexico border stations. [Map]. In FamilySearch Wiki.
Hohner (ca. 2009). Hohner Corona II accordion signed by Flaco Jiménez. [Musical instrument]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Gilbert Reyes, Jr., 2015.0079.01.
Strachwitz, C. (1970). Los Pingüinos Del Norte (Piedras Negras, Coah.) [Photograph]. In Trovadores de la frontera [Liner notes], 2001, p. 7. Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito, CA, ARH09024.
Strachwitz, C. (1972). Rumel Fuentes [Photograph]. In Corridos of the Chicano movement [Liner notes], 2009, p. 2. Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito, CA, ARH00507.
Strachwitz, C. (2001). Los Pingüinos del Norte [Photograph]. In Trovadores de la frontera [Liner notes] p. 1. Arhoolie Records, El Cerrito, CA. Cover design by Wayne Pope/Epop Productions, ARH09024.
Custom Creations (2020). Chicano pride [Logo]. On Etsy.
Unknown artist (1983). Chicanos in California [Screenprint on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, 1995.50.55.
Unknown artist (1968). Justice is our need . . . [Poster]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Clara Watkins, 279881.2g.
Platt Poster Company (ca. 1970s). Print with "Chicano Power" and "Viva La Raza" over a Mexican flag [Poster]. National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 2014.252.
Unknown artist (1983). Conjunto Aztlan [Photograph]. In Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano movement [Liner notes], 2005, p. 28. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC. Courtesy of Juan Tejeda, SFW40516.
Montoya, M. (1973). Vietnam/Aztlan [Offset lithograph on paper]. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Museum purchase through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2015.29.3.
Nadel, L. (1956). Braceros picking lettuce [Photograph]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 2004.0138.20.44.
Freedman, J. (1968, printed 2017). Resurrection City: Untitled [Photograph]. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, 2017.81.8.
Segur, H. (1973). Protestors singing on the UFW picket line [Photograph]. In Rolas de Aztlán: Songs of the Chicano movement [Liner notes], 2005, p. 4. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC, SFW40516. Courtesy of UC San Diego Library, Farmworker Movement Documentation Project.
Unknown artist (1968). Pinback button, poor people’s campaign [Badge pin]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Timothy D. W. Connelly in memory of Gordon Montgomery Connelly, 2003.0317.039.
Unknown artist (1988). Valor [Cotton paño]. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. Gift of Rudy Padilla, 1993.0150.06.
Cross, B. (ca. 2011). Quetzal [Photograph]. In Imaginaries [Liner notes], p. 2. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, Washington, DC., SFW40563.
Movimiento (n.d.). Ayuda para Colegio Cesar Chavez [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons.
* Audio, video, and images listed in order of slideshow sequence.