US Latinx Activism and Protests: From the Farm to the (Legislative) Table

East Los Angeles Murals

Throughout the history of Los Angeles, the Chicano Movement, which took place sometime around the 1960s and 1970s, was one of the most influential movements as it encompassed the many issues that Mexican Americans (Chicanos) faced. Some of these issues that the movement addressed were economic, social, and political inequalities. Although these inequalities can unfortunately still be seen in today’s society, many other inequalities were able to be abolished such as inequality in the education system. While the protests that took place during the movement played a significant role in that abolishment, the murals that were painted during the movement also played a significant role as they displayed narratives that highlighted the many struggles and inequalities that Chicanos faced. Interestingly enough, while many of these murals display struggles and inequalities, they also display the cultural aspect of Chicanismo and they do that by including important figures and imagery.


East Los Angeles murals reflected the strong emphasis on cultural identity and heritage within the Chicano movement. Murals, such as this specific one, often featured iconic symbols such as Jesus Christ, Mexican folklore, and unity. These symbols celebrated the Mexican and indigenous roots of Chicanos, which in turn provide a sense of cultural pride and reclaim the narratives and histories that had been marginalized. While the symbol of Jesus Christ can vary for different individuals, in general, what Jesus Christ represents to many is a blend of cultural, historical, and spiritual meanings that reflect the experiences of Mexican-Americans within the Chicano movement. Another symbol that is highlighted in the image is the iconic eagle which symbolizes the indigenous heritage that many Chicanos celebrate and identify with. An iconic figure such as Pancho Villa represents a much broader meaning such as resistance against oppression which is what the Chicano movement was all about. Lastly, we can see that unity in the mural through the Mexaican-Americans/Chicanos in the background and while they can represent unity, they can also represent empowerment within a marginalized community.

While the last mural displayed the different symbols and iconic figures in Chicanoismo, this mural represents the many different aspects of Chicano culture.


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  1. Art produced during the Chicanx movement Adelmar Ramirez

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