August 29th, 1970

If you read the words Wounded Knee, Roseville, or Stonewall many folks will readily know the word refers to events that were particularly meaningful to different communities and that are a part of our shared Civil Rights history.  Some more deadly in consequence, some less so, but not less meaningful.

For many in the Chicano/Latino Community the date August 29th or the words Chicano Moratorium carry that same sort of import.  

It is a day that is pivotal in Chicano and Latino civil rights history.  

The quotes and links below will lead you to writings that discuss the Chicano Moratorium.  


Remembering
 the Chicano Moratorium
Posted By Luis J. Rodriguez on August 28, 2007

It will be thirty seven years August 29 after the Chicano Moratorium against the Viet Nam War was first held in East Los Angeles — at the time the largest anti-war demonstration in a community of color in the country. Some 30,000 people came from all over Los Angeles, the Southwest, and other parts of the country to proclaim, “Ya Basta”–that’s enough. It also became the scene of one of the worse police abuse cases in the country when LA County sheriff’s deputies attacked the mostly peaceful crowd at Laguna Park, enacting hundreds of arrests, causing hundreds of injuries, and resulting in at least three dead. One of those killed was Chicano reporter Ruben Salazar — the only national media voice Chicanos had at the time.

http://luisjrodriguez.com/blog/2007/08/chicano-moratorium-against-viet-nam-war.html

August 27, 2010|By Reed Johnson, Los Angeles Time

An estimated 30,000 people marched that day through East Los Angeles in what began as a peaceful, festive get-together, with songs in the air and young and old united in chanting political slogans.

"It was so beautiful, when you were there," recalled Salas, a guitar player. "They had music there and it was a family-oriented type of situation."

But the day ended in a flurry of beatings and flying objects when law enforcement officials clashed with marchers, and three people were killed. Among those slain was Los Angeles Times reporter Rubén Salazar, whose columns had championed Latino rights. He died after being struck by a tear gas canister fired by a sheriff's deputy into the Silver Dollar Bar.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/aug/27/entertainment/la-et-chicano-moratorium-20100827

A part of the work that is done when addressing civil rights is learning about what has come before to help define what we as a greater community will be.  

Looking forward to this series on PBS.

 http://video.pbs.org/video/2365043221/

Diane Walker, Doña Eulalia Award Recipient

If you look at Monday's entry you'll see background information about the Doña Eulalia Award.  You'll also see Alex Schultz as this year's recipient.  We're fortunate this year to acknowledge two people in our community who have shown extraordinary support for the Latino Heritage Parade & jamaica.

Diane Walker is also a recipient this year.  For the past 8 years she has shared her creativity with us and the greater community.  Over the years that creativity has resulted in ofrendas, historical fashion runways, a cardboard plane, book displays, exhibits, and so much more.  The collaborative efforts have truly resulted in an event that took place at La Pintoresca Library and Park.  

Diane was born to a working class family of eight siblings in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was the first child in her family to receive a degree from a higher learning institution.  

Over her 25-year tenure, she has been the manager at Linda Vista, San Rafael, Allendale,  Lamanda Park, La Pintoresca and Villa Parke branch libraries and is currently managing Hastings Ranch Branch of the Pasadena Public Library . 

Diane is proud of her creative flair and is very passionate about her work with children. She lets her light shine and you can't help but be drawn into her positive energy.

Archivist vs. historian

Seeing the writing on the back of the photo probably makes the archivist cringe and say, "Oh, no" - at least in their mind.  

The historian sees the writing, smiles, and says, "Oh, yes". 

Courtesy Carmel Meza Collection, the Archives, Pasadena Museum of History

Often people think that the small day to day moments, like a 4 month old seated on a chair, are of small consequence.  Not so.  When several people share these small moments that we can get a sense of what life was like in a community.  A greater or a more detailed picture is shared.

So let's celebrate Elena and her family - here in Pasadena in 1927.  

Alex Schultz, Doña Eulalia Award Recipient

In then early 19th Century when mission lands were transferred from the church to state, Fr. Zalvidea of Mission San Gabriel Arcangel "set aside" 14,000 acres for Doña Eulalia Pérez de Guillen.  The land was known as Rancho El Rincon de San Pascual.  She received this as an acknowledgment of her dedication to those at the mission.  

Every year Latino Heritage recognizes members of the community who have shown continued and deep dedication to the work that we do. 

This year we recognize  Alex Schultz who has been involved with the Latino Heritage Parade & jamaica since 2004.   

Alex is the lead teacher for the Visual Arts and Design Academy (VADA) at Pasadena High School. VADA is an art based program that targets at-risk students and is comprised of a team of teachers who plan integrated projects together and provide student support. 

Using information from a presentation by one of our members VADA Alex has students research additional information that is pertinent to the theme of the Parade & jamaica for that year.  They then produce a variety of cooperative and individual projects that are part of the Parade. 

Alex grew up just outside of Denver, Colorado and attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has a Bachelors degree in fine arts with an emphasis in photography, a Bachelors degree in biology, and a Master’s degree in education administration. He has taught art classes to students from Pre-k through adults and just started his 20^th year of teaching.

The writing is on the wall...and in the book

First the book...from late 19th century Pasadena directory.  

Courtesay of Archives, Pasadena Museum of History

Can't give credit to all the authors, but this was the writing on the walls at Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural and Bookstore.    This was in el cuartito.

http://www.tiachucha.com/

With a little help from our teens

The La Pintoresca Teen Education Center (LPTEC) is one of the places in North Pasadena that supports our teens.  Great place offering great opportunities for our teens.  

One of the groups that is at LPTEC is focused on providing service to the community.  

On Tuesday we made a quick exchange - a lesson on local history for some time stuffing sponsorship envelopes for the event for the 15th Annual Latino Heritage Parade & jamaica.  Adult volunteers Alex and Jose helped out, too.

Many folks think that the event is primarily run by the city or that those of us involved are paid.  Neither of those facts is true.  Yes, we'd love to have Sponsorship like the Black History Parade, but we're receiving support at the Co-sponsorship level.  So we have a real need for getting financial support from members of our community.

We've been 1,000 strong in the Parade for the past several years.  Thanks to all of our volunteers, who come from all backgrounds and all ages, who bring their own gifts to the work.  Our event is a success thanks to their dedication.

More thanks to Carmel Meza and the Pasadena Museum of History

Thanks to Carmel Meza and the Meza Family for sharing their history with us.

Back reads - Joe Meza, 1913

Back reads - Frances Baladez and Felipa, Pasadena

Back reads - 1932 Civic Aud. Pasa.

Jess Meza at 20

Courtesy of Archives, Pasadena Museum of History

Thanks to Carmel Meza and the Pasadena Museum of History...

we have these group photos as part of the Mexican Collection.

The first may have been taken at the Edna P. Alter/Mexican Settlement.  The back reads " Halloween party, S. Fair Oaks at Hurlbutt, 1914.

The back reads, "Fair Oaks, 1917"

The back reads, "Pasadena Mudhole, Arroyo Seco...(and then lists names of those in the picture as well as date - 1926, August 10".

Sometimes for the better

Tomorrow August 14th is our next General Planning meeting.  We will be at the La Pintoresca Library from 5:30-6:30.  There is usually parking on Raymond just north of Washington.

Tomorrow is also the first day of school in the Pasadena Unified School District.  Tonight will be a rough night for many a student, parent, teacher, and administrator.  But in the best of situations they will all work together to make the year the best possible for the students.  

Here is a picture of the faculty of Juniper Serra School.  The guess on the back of the picture is that this is from the mid 1920s.  They are a mix of ages and experiences; that probably made for some fine role models for the students.  To be honest, I see a couple of folks whose classroom I would wish to avoid.  But that's not fair; sometime the most loving and stern teacher is the person that provides the best guidance to students.  Please note - stern, not mean, not demeaning...

A snippet from the 1911 Tournament of Roses Program - 

"Pasadena Public Schools", by Arthur L. Hamilton, City of Superintendent of Schools

" In 1908 the number of pupils held over was 729 , or 21.7  of the total number of children on the rolls at the ned of the year.  In 1909 the number was 550, or 16 percent of the total.  For the year closing June 1910, the number over was 265 or 73. per cent.  Seventy-two of these were held over in the first grade and largely on account of under-aged pupils.  

The average cost of pupils in the grammar grades was, last year, $58.63.  As this is $5863 per hundred pupils held over, of extra expense to the district, it will be seen that from a financial pint of view the effort is worth while.  the advantage in the conservation of the child's interests is of vastly greater importance, however, than the financial gain. 

 

The teaching force of the city consists of 40 high school teachers; 132 grammar and primary; 26 kindergarten; 14 specials - a total f 212 teachers.  The total number of pupils enrolled in the public schools last year was  5623.  The high school reached 863 students; the grammar and primary grades 4352.  The kindergartens had a total of 408". 

What was blooming at Junipero Serra?

Mexican Schools were not uncommon in Southern California.  These were schools that were established as segregated schools for Mexicans, not schools that eventually had an almost exclusive Mexican population because the families coming to live in the area all shared Mexican heritage.
To date we mostly have images that were taken at Junipero Serra school.

This seems to be from some school program in the last 1920s.  I'm betting it was a spring program because of the flowers and bees.

Not sure what the fellow in the far right is supposed to be representing.  I'm pretty sure he wishes he were wearing a different costume, or perhaps no costume at all.

Latino Heritage Parade & jamaica 

Planning meeting today:

5:30-6:30 p.m.

La Casita, 805 N. Madison Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103