The stories educators share in classrooms leave lasting impressions on students. Alondra Salazar, a social studies educator in Surprise, Ariz., spoke to Retro Report about using our Emmy-nominated film on the Chicano rights movement in her teaching. The film captures a school walkout organized by Latino students in East L.A. in 1968. The protest made an impact on her students and sparked meaningful discussions long after the lesson was over.

“It was really interesting to me that they were talking about this topic weeks after we had already finished,” Salazar said. Students would approach her in the hallways, she said, eager to discuss their thoughts and astonished that students experienced such upheaval.

Central to the video’s strength is its representation of Mexican American students and their activism. “Not only did they relate because they were students, but the population of our school is Mexican American students,” Salazar said. “They felt represented in the video.” This connection is crucial, as students see themselves reflected in the narratives presented, validating their experiences and identities.

 She contrasted this with her own experiences. “When I was a kid, I never felt represented in any of the stuff that I read,” Salazar said. “For my kids to actually feel like they’re heard and they’re seen, it’s just a big deal.” Validation not only boosts students’ confidence, she told us, but also encourages them to engage more deeply with the material.

The video’s narrative, Salazar said, “keeps the viewer engaged and continues the story in a way that you want to hear more.” By connecting historical events to contemporary experiences, the resources foster a sense of curiosity and relevance, inviting students to explore further.

ABOUT THE VIDEO

Thousands of high school students walked out of classes in East Los Angeles in 1968 to protest inequality for Mexican Americans in the public education system. Among the students’ concerns were classes that omitted Hispanic history, a lack of bilingual teachers and a system that steered Chicano students to vocational training rather than college-prep classes. The police confronted the demonstrators with violence, and 13 organizers were arrested. Charges against them were eventually dismissed on First Amendment grounds. The protest, one of the largest by students in U.S. history, set the stage for a Chicano movement seeking a broad array of civil rights reforms for Latinos.

Find two free lessons use with this documentary on Retro Report’s website.

A Spanish translation of the transcript is available here. 

DAGMAR ROTHSCHILD is an education intern at Retro Report. She is an undergraduate at Georgetown, studying International Relations.

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