Series:

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

Topic:

Latina and Latino History

Social Movements

Chicano Movement

Biographical Note:

One of the central clergy in the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights during the 1960s and 1970s. Played a contributing role in the church's involvement with the Chicana/o Movement.

Interviewer:

Espino, Virginia

Interviewee:

Wood, Roger

Persons Present:

Wood and Espino.

Place Conducted:

Wood's home in Sierra Madre, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library'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., UC, 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:

7.5 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—Growing up in Sierra Madre—Race and religion—Education—Racial dynamics—Economic depression—Social life—Navy—Okinawa—Segregation in the Navy

Family history—Religion—American history and race—Military experience—Experience in England—Law school--Harry Rathbun—Education abroad—Seminary—More on religion

Seminary in Moab—Relationship to Mormonism—Relationship to Navajo community—Relationship to victim’s family—Racial dynamics in Utah—Los Angeles—First experiences at the parish—Church’s political activities—Political leaders

Ernie Gutierrez--La Raza and Father Luce—Childhood memories—Rectory—Church’s relationship to politics—Learning about organizing—Education activism and school board protests—Movement leaders—Changes in political landscape—Father Luce’s legacy—Reflections on Movement—Leaders leaving—Death of Ruben Salazar

History of church’s politics-- Católicos por La Raza—UNO—Movement leaders—Direct action and movement strategy—Clergy involvement—Efficacy of movement—UNO actions—Church of the Epiphany role—Building community political consciousness—Change in Chicano Movement throughout the 70s—Police repression—Collaborating with ACLU—Impact of the movement—Personal impact