California State University, Channel Islands
CHS 292
Chicana/o Studies
Service Learning and Engagement:
BRACERO HISTORY PROJECT
(last updated 1/21/09)
Dr. José M. Alamillo
Associate Professor and Coordinator
Chicano/a Studies Program
(805) 437-2685
jose.alamillo@csuci.edu
http://csuci.blackboard.com
www.josealamillo.com
Office: Sage Hall 2125
Office Hours: M-Th 2-3pm
Class Location: Malibu Hall 121
Class Meeting Times:Mondays 10-11:50am
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to the practices necessary for effective research and work on issues of social justice in Chicana/o communities. Students will learn to how to identify, research, and reflect on dealing with these issues through "hands-on" service learning. Students will engage in and apply learned skills and techniques necessary for social change within Chicana/o communities to develop problem-solving methodologies as a practical means in advancing social and economic justice.
During spring semester 2009 students will begin studying the Bracero Program through films and readings, then they will choose one of the following options: (1) Organizing a community town meeting in Santa Paula, CA (2) Archival reseach on the impact of the Bracero Program in Ventura County (3) Interviewing family members of former Braceros.
Course satisfies GE category: D (Social Perspectives)
Course counts toward the B.A. and Minor in Chicana/o Studies
Service Learning Outcomes
Upon completion students will be able to:
1) Demonstrate an ability to think critically analytically and creatively about the Chicana/o experience in the local and global society by examining the projects and programs of public and non-profit agencies in our service area.
2) Demonstrate competency in oral, written, and practical research skills.
3) Assemble a comprehensive knowledge and sensitivity of Chicana/o history, culture, socio-political issues, arts, language, and equality.
4) Demonstrate practical leadership skills to promote social change in the Chicana/o communities in Ventura County region.
COURSE READINGS:
Selected Readings will be available on CHS 292 Blackboard.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
● Class Attendance and Participation (20%)
Attendance is mandatory and class participation is essential for this service learning course. If you cannot attend class due to illness or family emergency please contact the instructor and/or bring a doctor’s note to class. Since we meet once per week it is important that you attend class. Readings are expected to be done prior to class meeting.
● Bracero History Journal (20%)
You will be asked to keep a journal to reflect on the readings, videos, and assignments throughout the semester. Each entry should reflect on the significance of the Bracero Program and its impact on Braceros, the Chicano/a community and United States in general. The Journal will be checked periodically and collected after FOUR times, including at the end of the semester.
● Town Hall Meeting (20%)
Assist instructor in organizing a Bracero Town Hall Meeting in Santa Paula, CA. The date is to be determined. The primary duties will be attend and help gather information on ex-Braceros such as biographical information, basic information on their Bracero years, and scanning images of photos and ID cards.
● Archival Research (20%)
Conduct archival newspaper research on the Bracero Program. Students browse historical newspapers to identify key articles on Braceros in Ventura County. You will be required to locate and print at least 20 articles related to the topic. After you completed your collection reflect on these articles in your journal. The historical newspapers are located in two locations: 1) CSUCI Library: http://www.library.csuci.edu/articles/newspapers.htm
Contains the Los Angeles Times and Hispanic Newspapers
2) Camarillo Public Library: http://www.library.csuci.edu/articles/newspapers.htm
Contains local newspapers like the Ventura County Star
● Oral History Interview (20%)
You will be required to conduct an oral history interview of a former bracero, or wife of ex-bracero, or any family member of ex-bracero. By participating in the Bracero Oral History Project you will develop interviewing skills and gain a better understanding of the Bracero Program and the Chicano/a experience. This assignment will also allow you to make connections between academic material and lived experiences. More detailed paper guidelines will be posted on Blackboard.
GRADING SCALE
The final grade system will be a “+/-” A, B, C, D, and F-scale.
100% - 95% = A
94% - 90% = A-
89% - 87% = B+
86% - 84% = B
83% - 80% = B-
79% - 77% = C+
76% - 74% = C
73% - 70% = C-
69% - 67% = D+
66% - 64% = D
63% - 60% = D-
59% and below = F
Grade Calculation:
Attendance/Participation...……………………………………….……………20%
Bracero History Journal………………………………………………….………20%
Town Hall Meeting…………………………………………………………………20%
Archival Research……………………………………………………………………20%
Oral History Interview…………………………………………………………….20%
SPECIAL NOTES
-All dates, assignments and readings listed on this syllabus are subject to change with notice.
-I expect that during class you will turn off your cell phones and other distracting electronic devices.
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes such things as cheating; plagiarism, inventing false information or citations, and helping someone else commit an act of academic dishonesty. If caught students we be punished according to university guidelines: http://senate.csuci.edu/2002-2003/SP02-01.pdf
Disability Accommodation Services
Disability Accommodation Services (DAS) is dedicated to providing a broad range of quality support services to meet the needs of students with all types of physical, learning, psychological and/or sensory impairments that limit major life activities. Services are available to any student who finds his or her disability to be a barrier to achieving their educational goals. Only those students who identify themselves to the University and present appropriate written documentation of a disability are eligible for accommodation. Students with disabilities should contact the DAS office as soon as possible, even if they are not yet enrolled. All requests for accommodations require appropriate advance notice to avoid a delay in services. (V/TTY): (805) 437-8510. Fax: (805) 437-8529. accommodations@csuci.edu.
COURSE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 21: Introduction to the course and Bracero History Project
Read: Preserving Voices From a Bygone Era, One Bracero at a Time
PART 1: BRACERO HISTORIOGRAPHY
Monday, Jan. 26: Comparative and Political Economy Approaches
READ:
1) Gilbert Gonzalez, “Imperialism and Labor-Mexican, Indian, and Algerian Labor Migrations in Comparative Perspective” in Guest Workers or Colonized Labor: Mexican Labor Migration to the United States. [PDF Dowload]
2) Joon Kim, “The Political Economy of the Mexican Farm Labor Program, 1942-1964” [PDF Download]
WATCH: Los Braceros: Strong Arms to Aid the U.S.A
Monday, Feb. 2: The Bracero Total Institution and Work Experiences
READ:
1) Ronald Mize, “Power (In) Action: State and Agribusiness in the Making of the Bracero Total Institution”
2) Erasmo Gamboa, “Bracero Worker”” in Mexican Labor and World War II
WATCH: The Border Incident
Monday, Feb. 9: Social Life and Gender Issues
READ:
1) Erasmo Gamboa, “Social Life”” in Mexican Labor and World War II
2) Matt Garcia, “Intraethnic Conflict and the Bracero Program during World War II”
3) Deborah Cohen, “From Peasant to Worker: Migration, Masculinity and the Making of Mexican Workers in the U.S”
Monday, Feb. 16: Bracero Program’s Relevance to Current Immigration Proposals
READ:
1) David Bacon, “The Political Economy of Immigration Reform: The Corporate Campaign for a U.S. Guest Worker Program” and
2) Heather Schwartz, “Historical Memory and the importance of the Bracero Project in the struggles of trabajadores migrantes today”
JOURNAL DUE
PART 2: ORAL HISTORY METHODOLOGY
Monday, Feb. 23: Oral History Matters
READ:
1) Portelli, “What Makes Oral History Different”
2) Ruiz, “Situating Stories: The Surprising Consequences of Oral History”
Monday, March 2: Bracero Oral Histories
READ: Bracero Interview Excerpts from Rodolfo Jacobo’s Los Braceros
Monday, March 9: Listening to Bracero Interviews
LISTEN: Bracero History Archive
JOURNAL DUE
Monday, March. 16: Conduct Interviews
Monday-Friday, March 23-27 SPRING BREAK
Monday, March 30-April 3: CESAR CHAVEZ WEEK
PART 3: TOWN HALL MEETING
Monday, April 6: Bridging Chicano/a Studies with the Chicano/a Community
READ: Gilda Ochoa and Enrique Ochoa, “Education for Social Transformation: Chicana/o and Latin American Studies and Community Struggles”
Monday, April 13: Bracero Claims Movement
READ: “Braceros Help Again Retracing U.S. History”
WATCH: Programa Bracero, Triste Recuerdos (2002)
JOURNAL DUE
PART 3: ARCHIVAL RESEARCH
Monday, April 20: Archive Matters
READ: Chon A. Noriega, “Preservation Matters: Research, Community, and the Archive”
Monday April 27: Newspaper Archive Research
Monday May 4th: Presenting Newspaper Research Findings
JOURNAL DUE