Friday, April 12, 2013

My Review of Chicano Manifesto, Authored by Armando Rendon


As the movement toward immigration reform has finally, once again, come to the forefront of important political issues I recalled having read Chicano Manifesto, the comprehensive history of the Chicano movement in the 1970s as studied and lived by its author, Armando Rendon.  Upon rereading it I am even more convinced than I was when I first read it decades ago that there is no better reference material available for politicians, professors, teachers, students and supporters of immigration and the Chicano movement than Chicano Manifesto.

Seldom in historical research are we able to find available for comparison with current events such an excellent, decade’s old, microscopic analysis as author Rendon’s Chicano Manifesto.

It is indeed unfortunate that as we compare the excellent road map provided by Rendon in Chicano Manifesto over forty years ago with that which has occurred in the decades since that the movement has time and time again been met with numerous obstructions and unfortunate detours along the route he suggested— yet heartening that finally there isa brightening light at the end of the very lengthy tunnel.

I suggest that unless one reads Chicano Manifesto and compares it to the current interest in immigration reform it is not possible to fully comprehend how far along Rendon’s Chicano Manifesto road map the movement has come.

Thank you, Armando, for having taken the time and effort to write and publish Chicano Manifesto.