California State University, Channel Islands
Chicano/a History & Culture
CHS 350/HIST. 350
Fall Semester 2008
Manzanita Hall 1142
Monday and Wednesday
3:00pm-4:15pm
(last updated 8/25/08)
Dr. José M. Alamillo
Associate Professor and Coordinator
Chicano/a Studies Program
Sage Hall 2125
Office Hours M, W 12-2pm or by appointment
(805) 437-2586
jose.alamillo@csuci.edu
(DOWNLOAD PDF COPY)
“An examination of the settlement and culture of Mexicanos in the United States to the present. Particular attention is given to the relationship of the political and economic institutions of the United States.”
This course will explore the history and culture of Mexican Americans in the United States from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Particular attention is given to the role of U.S. political and economic institutions in shaping the Mexican American experience in Ventura County, Southern California and the southwestern United States. In addition, we will examine the ways in which men and women of Mexican descent coped, mobilized and resisted individually and collectively against larger oppressive forces. The main topics to be covered include conquest and colonization, capitalist development and class inequality, immigration and migration, work and labor resistance, race and gender issues, ethnic identity, sports and popular culture.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Identify and analyze indigenous civilizations that existed in North America prior to the European conquest.
2. Record the historical migration of peoples and commerce within North America, that being present-day Mexico and the United States Southwest, prior to the European invasion.
3. Discuss the astronomical, technological, mathematical, and agricultural developments of early Native American civilizations.
4. Compare the religious worldviews of the various indigenous North Americans, the Spanish, and of Euro Americans, and how this came to affect social relations between these peoples.
5. Illustrate within the context of the cultural syncretism of European and indigenous peoples, how European America political, commercial, and legal values and institutions came to influence Chicana/o culture.
6. Analyze the nature of the historical dynamics of social stratification between Chicanas/os and European Americans beginning from the United States’ conquest of the Southwest in 1848 to the present.
7. Study the factors of class, culture, and race that shaped relations between European Americans, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, and Chicanas/os in what is today the United States from the period of the European conquest to 1995.
8. Examine the Chicana/o family and the effect of political economy on gender roles.
9. Appraise the expansion of the Chicana/o culture into the Southwestern part of the United States and the early nineteenth century intrusion of the dominant culture into this area.
10. Analyze/examine the role western institutions have had on the Chicana/o and how the Chicana/o has historically reacted; zoot suit riots, Texas blowout, and L.A. walkouts.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
1. Tomas Almaguer, Racial Fault Lines: The Historical Origins of White Supremacy in California (University of California Press, 1994).
2. José Alamillo, Making Lemonade out of Lemons: Mexican American Labor and Leisure in a California Town (University of Illinois Press, 2006)
3. Lorena Oropeza, ¡Raza Si! !Guerra No!: Chicano Protest and Patriotism During the Viet Nam War Era (University of California Press, 2005).
4. Mary Pardo, Mexican American Women Activists: Identity and Resistance in Two Los Angeles Communities (Temple University Press, 1998).
RECOMMENDED TEXT
1. Jorge Iber and Samuel Regalado, eds. Mexican Americans and Sports: A Reader on Athletics and Barrio Life (Texas A & M Press, 2007).
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
●Attendance and Class Participation (10%)
The sharing and exchanging of ideas and experiences are a central part of classroom learning and building community. Hence, class attendance and participation is an essential component of our class. It is to your benefit to come to class regularly. You are allowed two absences with no questions asked but after two unexcused absences your total participation points and final grade will be affected. If you miss due to medical reasons please bring a doctor’s note. Students are responsible for notifying the Instructor in advance to receive an excused absence. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the professor or another student for missed assignments. Your participation in class discussions is important. Since not all people are comfortable participating in the same way there will be different opportunities to participate, such as small group discussion and electronic discussion (Blackboard). I expect you to contribute to discussions, ask questions and to participate actively in in-class and outside group activities. Keep in mind that you cannot engage in a dialogue nor pose thoughtful questions unless you complete the assigned readings before class.
● Midterm Exam (30%)
The midterm exam will comprise the lecture material, readings and films from Weeks 1 to Week 8. The format will comprise of short and long essay questions. The Midterm will be distributed on Wed. Oct. 8th and it will be due Monday, Oct. 13th.
● Final Exam (30%)
The final exam will cover all lectures, readings and films/videos during the entire semester. Each student must take the final exam to complete the course. There will be no substitute work or make-up exams without the documented illness or emergency notification. The Final Exam will be distributed on the last day of class, Dec. 3rd and will be due Monday, Dec.8th by 6pm.
· Final Project & Presentation (30%)
Option 1: Roots Paper
Students will write a 8-10 paper on own family’s roots in Mexico and their immigration and settlement experience in the United States. Trace your maternal and/or paternal forbears’ immigrant experience. The paper should use personal interviews, photographs, letters, newspapers and other first-hand accounts. Discuss their lives before and during migration, what happened after they settled in a foreign land, and how they constructed and re-constructed their cultural identities over time. Each paper is required to incorporate themes, concepts, and topics from the course readings. Move beyond description and discuss what you can learn about your ancestors' changing relations to American society. Also discuss your family’s influence on your own ethnic identity person. More specific guidelines will be posted on Blackboard. You will be asked to present your roots paper for 8-10 minutes during the last week of the semester.
Option 2: Library Research Paper
Students will write a 8-10 page research paper using secondary sources on a topic related to the history and culture of Mexican Americans in the United States. A list of topics will be posted and distributed as well as guidelines on how to write a library research paper. The topic and sources will have to be approved by the instructor. Each student is required to submit their topic by Monday, Sept. 15th. A short bibliography with journal articles (min. of 3), books (min of 2) and newspaper sources (min. of 3) is due by Monday, Oct. 20th. The final research paper is due on the last day of class, Wednesday, Dec. 3rd. You will be asked to present your paper for 8-10 minutes during the last week of the semester.
Option 3: Sports Research Paper
This is an opportunity for you to assist the professor in his larger research project on Latino/as in U.S. sports. If you are interested in this research project you will be asked to conduct research on a particular athlete of Mexican descent or Latino/a participation in a sport. You will have to write a 8-10 page paper and follow the same guidelines and deadlines as Option 2. You should also purchase the recommended book on Mexican Americans and Sport listed above. You will be asked to present your paper for 8-10 minutes during the last week of the semester.
· Extra Credit:
There will be extra credit opportunities throughout the semester. There will be opportunities to earn Extra Credit points throughout the semester. Some examples include Latino Heritage Month events, museum exhibitions, theatrical performances, and film screenings. To earn extra credit you must write a short response on the presentation or film, or event you attended. Each Extra Credit is worth 3 points. No extra credit will be accepted after the last day of class.
GRADING POLICIES
The final grade system will be a “+/-” A, B, C, D, and F-scale. For individuals taking the course for credit/non-credit, a minimum C grade is needed for credit.
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% and below = F
Grade Calculation:
Attendance/Participation...……………………………………….………………..10%
Midterm Exam………………………………………………….………………………30%
Final Exam………………………………………...............................................30%
Final Project……………………………………….............................................30%
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:
Monday, Aug. 25: Introduction to the course and the new Chicano/a Studies Major.
Wednesday, Aug. 26: What is Chicano, Latino, Hispanic…What’s in a name?
Powerpoint #1
Monday, Sep. 1: LABOR DAY –NO CLASS
Wednesday, Sept. 3:
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Intro and Chapter 1
Monday, Sep. 8
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Chapter 2
VIDEO: RACE: Power of Illusion: The Story We Tell
Wednesday, Sept. 10
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Chapter 3
Monday, Sep. 15
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Chapter 4
Wednesday, Sept. 17
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Chapter 5 & 6
Monday, Sep. 22
READ: Racial Fault Lines, Chapter 7 & Epilogue
Wednesday, Sept. 24
READ: Making Lemonade, Intro. & Chapter 1
Monday, Sep. 29
READ: Making Lemonade, Chapter 2 & 3
VIDEO: Lemon Grove Incident
Wednesday, Oct. 1
READ: Making Lemonade, Chapter 4 & 5
Monday, Oct. 6
READ: Making Lemonade, Chapter 5 & 6
Wednesday, Oct. 8
READ: Making Lemonade, Chapter 7 & Epilogue
Distribute Midterm Exam
Monday, Oct. 13
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Introduction & Chapter 1
Midterm Exam DUE
Wednesday, Oct. 15
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Chapter 2
Monday, Oct. 20
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Chapter 3
VIDEO: Soldados: Chicanos in Viet Nam
Wednesday, Oct. 22
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Chapter 4
Monday, Oct. 27
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Chapter 5
Wednesday, Oct. 29
READ: ¡Raza Si! Guerra No!, Epilogue
Monday Nov. 3
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 1 & 2
Wednesday Nov. 5
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 3 & 4
Monday Nov. 10-Veteran’s Day- No Class
Wednesday Nov. 12
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 5 & 6
Monday Nov. 17
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 7
Wednesday Nov. 19
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 8
Monday Nov. 24
READ: Mexican American Women Activists, Chap. 9
VIDEO: Made in L.A.
Wednesday Nov. 26 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
THANKSGIVING BREAK
Monday Dec. 1 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Wednesday Dec. 3 FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Distribute Final Exam
Monday, Dec. 8th FINAL TAKE HOME DUE (before 6pm)