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Local History of the Chicano Movement 1966–1981: Jack and Doris Smothers in Long Beach

Scott Parker

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Published in Quixote S Soldiers: A Local History Of The Chicano Movement 1966 1981 (Jack And Doris Smothers In Texas History Life And Culture 26)

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The Chicano Movement was a period of social and political activism by Mexican Americans in the United States from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s. The movement sought to improve the lives of Mexican Americans in areas such as education, employment, housing, and civil rights. One of the key centers of the Chicano Movement was Long Beach, California, where two prominent activists, Jack and Doris Smothers, played a significant role.

Quixote s Soldiers: A Local History of the Chicano Movement 1966 1981 (Jack and Doris Smothers in Texas History Life and Culture 26)

Quixote's Soldiers: A Local History of the Chicano Movement, 1966–1981 (Jack and Doris Smothers Series in Texas History, Life, and Culture Book 26)

by David Montejano

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6142 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	361 pages
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Background: The Chicano Movement in Long Beach

Long Beach has a long history of Mexican American settlement, dating back to the 1920s. By the 1960s, Mexican Americans made up a significant portion of the city's population, but they faced discrimination and inequality in many aspects of life. The Chicano Movement in Long Beach emerged in response to these conditions, with activists seeking to empower the Mexican American community and fight for their rights.

Jack and Doris Smothers: Activism and Leadership

Jack and Doris Smothers were two of the most influential leaders of the Chicano Movement in Long Beach. Jack, born in Texas in 1921, was a World War II veteran who became involved in community activism after the war. Doris, born in Long Beach in 1929, was a nurse and community organizer.

Together, Jack and Doris founded the East Side Civic Center in 1966, which became a hub for Chicano activism in Long Beach. The center offered a range of programs, including tutoring, counseling, and legal aid, and it became a focal point for the community.

Key Events and Campaigns

Jack and Doris Smothers were involved in numerous key events and campaigns during the Chicano Movement in Long Beach. These included:

The National Farm Workers Association Strike (1966-1970): Jack and Doris Smothers were strong supporters of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, and they organized local support for the farm workers' strike.
The Brown Berets: Jack and Doris Smothers were instrumental in establishing a chapter of the Brown Berets in Long Beach, a youth organization that fought for Chicano rights.
The Aztlan Conference (1970): Jack and Doris Smothers attended the Aztlan Conference in Denver, Colorado, which brought together Chicano leaders from across the country to discuss the future of the movement.
The Chicano Moratorium (1970): Jack and Doris Smothers helped organize the Chicano Moratorium in Los Angeles, a protest against the Vietnam War and police brutality.

Education and Community Empowerment

In addition to their activism in the broader Chicano Movement, Jack and Doris Smothers also played a key role in promoting education and community empowerment in Long Beach. Jack helped establish the Mexican American Studies program at California State University, Long Beach, and Doris worked at Long Beach City College, where she helped establish the Chicana Studies program.

Jack and Doris Smothers believed that education was essential for the empowerment of the Mexican American community. They worked to ensure that Mexican American students had access to quality education and that their culture and history were respected in schools.

Legacy and Impact

The activism of Jack and Doris Smothers and other Chicano Movement activists in Long Beach had a significant impact on the city and the broader region. The movement led to increased awareness of the challenges faced by Mexican Americans and to the development of new programs and policies to address those challenges.

Jack and Doris Smothers' legacy continues today. The East Side Civic Center, which they founded, remains a vital community center in Long Beach, and the programs they established continue to provide support and empowerment to the Mexican American community.

The local history of the Chicano Movement in Long Beach is a story of struggle, activism, and empowerment. Jack and Doris Smothers were two of the most influential leaders of the movement, and their work made a lasting impact on the city and its Mexican American community.