Series:

"La Batalla Está Aquí": The Chicana/o Movement in Los Angeles

Topic:

Latina and Latino History

Social Movements

Chicano Movement

Biographical Note:

An organizer and leader of the Chicana/o student movement at CSULA from 1969 to 1973, and one of the leaders of the Comisión Feminil chapter at CalState LA as well as La Vida Nueva at East Los Angeles College.

Interviewer:

Espino, Virginia

Interviewee:

Palacios, Martha

Persons Present:

Palacios and Espino.

Place Conducted:

Palacios's home in San Dimas, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA's Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Virginia Espino, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; B.A., University of California, Santa Cruz (Psychology); Ph.D., Arizona State University (History).Espino prepared for the interview by consulting numerous secondary sources on the history of the Chicana and Chicano Movement in Los Angeles, such as Youth, Identity, Power: The Chicano Movement by Carlos Muñoz, Chicano Politics Reality and Promise 1940-1990 by Juan Gomez Quinones, From Out of the Shadows: Mexican Women in Twentieth-Century America by Vicki L. Ruiz, and Racism on Trial: The Chicano Fight for Justice, by Ian F. Lopez Haney. The Historical Los Angeles Times database was consulted along with primary resources from the Chicana/o Movement housed at UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording as transcribed by a professional transcribing agency. The interviewee was given an opportunity to review the transcript but made no corrections or additions.

Length:

3.5 hrs

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

The interviews in this series document the ideological transformation of the Chicana and Chicano generation in Los Angeles. Dissatisfied with their position in U.S. society, Chicana and Chicano activists built a civil rights movement from the ground up. Interviewees were selected based on their experience as members or leaders of Chicana and Chicano Movement organizations from 1962 to 1978. Collectively the oral histories document a variety of social justice struggles that include, but are not limited to, educational improvement, union advocacy, voting and political rights, gender equality, and anti-war activism.

Family history—Conflicts within family—Welfare--Early education—Religion—Racial dynamics in childhood—Brother--Mother

Move to Highland Park—Racial dynamics in Highland Park—Highland Park community—Family and home dynamics—Stepfather's behavior and coping mechanisms—Friendships—Siblings, mother and family dynamics—Move to Montebello—Working at a plant—Friendship—High school—Family conflicts—Social life

Higher education—Chicano movement at East LA College—SDS and anti-war movement--Moratorium—Walkouts—Project Hope—Nationalism and politics—Clothing—Chicano studies and political consciousness—Gender dynamics— Comisión Femenil

Racial and gender dynamics in Chicano movement—Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA)—Treatment of women on campus—Community events

Women in Chicano movement—Sexism in Chicano Movement and interracial relationships—Comisión—Hermandad—Reproductive justice—Marriage—Racial and gender dynamics—Movement successes and legacy—Working with incarcerated community—College studies—Community organizing—Relationship with police—Evolving politics—Infighting—Work as educator and human resources manager