Chicana Tributes

<p>This book documents the experiences of sixty-one women who<br />flourished in the ferment of the civil/ethnic/women’s rights movements of the<br />late twentieth century and beyond. While each life is unique collectively they<br />demonstrate the benefits gained when a community and a society unleashes and<br />fosters the potential of women who create organize and lead. Conversely an<br />undetermined degree of loss may accrue to societies that suppress or discourage<br />the freedom of women to shape their destinies.<br />When women come together with a collective intention powerful things<br />happen. Simultaneously but separately in 1972-73 at San Diego State University<br />and at Stanford University and having never met two of us had the same idea<br />to propose and design a course about Mexican American women. The idea for<br />this book also has a history. In those days both of us wanted to contribute to the<br />development of Chicano studies. The Mexican American voice so much a fabric<br />of U.S. history was missing from the dominant English narrative and the women’s<br />presence was nearly absent from Chicano literature and history. Chicanas acted<br />to change these injustices thereby adding new energy to the Chicano Movement<br />and to other liberation discourse. At that time as graduate students we had the<br />opportunity to teach a Chicana women’s course.<br />Such a course had never been taught at either university. While women<br />instigated change at different colleges in those years Chicanas/Latinas appeared<br />to be anonymous. And although Anglo women around the country had already<br />started addressing women’s needs they did not include the new diverse student<br />population that was entering the universities.<br />the woman where she has most noticeably served. Chapters One and<br />Two begin with Mujeres Presentes that is the women who have passed away<br />but whose presence lives on as their actions continue to affect the lives of others.<br />Chapters Eleven and Twelve highlight educators whose work builds on that of<br />earlier mentors and their actions. The chapters between include: Three and Four<br />“Early Activists;” Five and Six “Chicanas in the Arts:” Seven and Eight “Chicanas<br />in Education;” Nine and Ten “Chicanas in Public Office.” Each chapter includes<br />a brief introduction but the women’s narratives are the core of the book; their<br />stories easily stand on their own.<br />This collection may be considered a starting point and by no means<br />represents the entire Chicana/Latina community in San Diego. As it turned out<br />there were many more women than the sixty-one women presented here. The<br />hope is that others may read the book and decide to author a future edition. All<br />women ought to be honored for their efforts and receive the recognition they<br />deserve.<br /> </p>