Could the blowouts-one of the greatest mass protest by high school students in U.S History-have taken place without Sal Castro? Sal Castro, although unknown to most Americans and, indeed, to most other Mexican American and other Latinos, is a major figure into the Chicano struggle for educational justice in the United States. Educational Justice, in turn, has been a centerpiece of the larger Chicano struggle for civil rights.
As one of the few Chicano teachers in the L.A. school district in the 1960s, which included the so called Mexican Schools in East L.A., Castro was the indispensable figure in what came to be known as the 1968 blowouts or walkouts by 20,000 students to protest inferior education in the Eastside schools. It was Sal-as he is popularly called-who recognized the problems affecting Mexican students in the schools: low expectations by teachers, a stress of vocational rather than an academic curriculum, high dropout rates, low reading scores, insensitive teachers and counselors, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of ethnic and cultural reinforcement, among many other problems. Castro’s own experience attending public elementary schools during the 1930’s and 1940s further added to his understanding that the schools had historically failed in teaching the Mexican American student.
“It was a Political evolution of a group of young Chicanos in east LA and asserting their real identity and then getting involved and realizing that the system wouldn’t change unless you became more direct action”.(Carlos Montes ) Sal brought to East LA the principles and practices of king and Chavez, Castro organized the Mexican American Youth Leadership Conference with high school and college students, they formed a Chicano coalition and presented the school with demands for a broader curriculum.
In Addition he established the Chicano Youth Leadership Conference at a camp in Malibu, where many Chicano students, for the first time, experienced their culture beyond painful stereotypes. The leadership skills they acquired there sent many into public service – like Justice Moreno, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and many now in state and local politics. ”This is where I got my voice. This is where my passion for justice was born in me. It changed my whole being.” (-Vicki Castro)
In East LA this generation was fortunate to have a role model like Sal Castro. As a teacher, he encouraged his students to think critically, to be proud of themselves, and, most important, to believe in themselves, and that included the idea of going on to college. Ultimately Castors leadership was able to change students life courses by increasing the college enrollment from 2% to 25% he was able to change their future for the better.
It was difficult to find people to interview about Sal Castro because all the teachers I asked had no clue that he was. But luckily Mr. Reyes and Mrs. Arias both let me interview them.
One of the teachers I interview was Ms. Arias a Spanish teacher here at AV and luckily she knew who Sal was. My first question was regarding his leadership role in the walkouts. Do you think the walkouts would have been possible without Sal Castro? “It would have not been possible, students first attempt to walkout was not successful but then the second time they had Sal to guide them through the process”.(Arias) Additionally “Sal Castro made students realize that in order for their walkout to be successful it needed to be peaceful and organized”(Arias).
If Sal would have been their advice the students it would have been K-os and probably resulted in some injuries.
During the 1960s the fight for human rights seemed to be the trend so police did everything they could to quiet the protesters even if it meant killing them.
My last question was how dedicated was Sal castro to his Students and how were his students dedicated to him? “At one point Sal was arrested and his career was in danger. In june 1968 the group that became known as the “East LA 13” leaders were endited including Sal Castro on consperacy charges,they were looking at 66years in prison they were all tracked down by the FBI, this was an attempt to stop the movement”(Arias). Because He was an accused fellon he could no longer teach. Students were outraged and protested to get his job back. This was a reflection on how dedicated the students were to Sal. Did Mexicans gain a political voice because of the Walkouts? “The voice was getting louder! As a result of the Walkouts students found their voices and became confident in their abilities.”(Arias).“They already had a voice, Ceasar Chavez took the first initiative in combating civil rights for Mexicans”(Arias).
I Interviewed Mr. Reyes a teacher here at AVHS although he didn't have no knowledge on Sal Castro he did speak to me about the Chicano Movement. What was the Chicano
Movement I Asked? “the Chicano Movement encouraged other Mexicans to fight for their rights just like the African Americans did and as a result they gained a political voice.” (Reyes)
After this interview I began to understand how important it is to have a political voice. The interview went well and Mr. Reyes gave me a lot of good information.
Sal Castro’s contributions to the Chicano Movement are clearly unheard of. So that is why I felt it was necessary to bring into the light Sal Castro’s amazing leadership and willingness to die for what he believed in. I began to question why public schools forbid the teaching of Chicano History and classify it as a ”Controversial Subject”. Mexican Americans are no longer the minority instead they make up the majority of the U.S population so it's vital that history teachers incorporate leaders like Sal into their lesson plan to not only get student involved but to also inform them about their ancestors contributions. Nowadays schools represent institutions of ideological control, they omiss Mexican Americans contributions to the Unites States and as a result students still have no sense of place in American History.
Sal Castro was able to influence me to take a leadership role to help others out and I came to really admire him. I created a club to address the needs of Latino students here at Antelope Valley High School and within the Antelope Valley Community. My purpose within the club is to empower students and help create a support system among students seeking to better themselves. Just as I’ve seen in myself, I want to encourage others that it’s never too late to make a change; past experiences, academic challenges and emotional hardships should not determine your future.
Sal Castro legacy can be depicted through his leadership and guidance for his students. He made history and influenced others in particular Chicanos to stand up for what they believed in. I admire Sal because he refused to conform to the social injustice that was present when others accepted the social expectations implemented towards the Mexican American people.
“This generation the Chicano generation would no longer accept indivisibility, irreverence, marginalization, discrimination, racism and second hand citizenship”(-Garcia). Mexicans had a new attitude towards society they had a new sense of human worth and will no longer be taken for granted. They will not be denied their rights or respect. “There were bigger victories a foot the changes to the spirits. While changed was how all of us viewed ourselves. There is a middle class professional educated Chicano community today because of those walkouts and their lives were transformed because they discovered that they could do what they wanted to do with their lives then they could achieve. Young Latinos used their new voices all this made possible impart by one man’s leadership his love for his community, and people his culture and his country”.-Esparza
Could the blo
wouts one of the largest mass protest by high school students in US history have taken place without Sal Castro. Without a leader like Sal the walkouts would have not been widespread and as effective. He had a good spirit and good intentions. As a responsible and committed leader, he had the utmost confidence of the students. They believed in him and he believed in them. Castro gave legitimacy to what his students did. He passed his courage to them and in return he sustained them. Sal Castro will be remembered as a teacher who not only taught History but who also made history.