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Greyson · 04-16-2013, 09:44 AM

Sal Castro, teacher who led '68 Chicano student walkouts, dies at 79

By Teresa Watanabe

April 15, 2013

Salvador Castro, a social studies teacher who played a leading role in the historic 1968 Chicano student walkouts protesting rampant bias and inequalities in the Los Angeles Unified School District, died Monday, the district announced. He was 79.

Castro, known as “Sal,” was a Lincoln High School teacher who guided student walkouts at five predominantly Mexican American schools on the Eastside in what came to be seen as a milestone in community activism. The students demanded bilingual education, ethnic studies and other changes at a time when the curriculum largely ignored Mexican American history and educators forbid Chicano students to speak Spanish and often steered them toward menial jobs rather than college despite strong academic abilities, according to the district.

Castro was arrested and charged with conspiracy to disrupt public schools and disturb the peace for his alleged role in guiding the “blowouts.” But the charges were eventually dropped and he came to be hailed as a courageous civil rights leader. Salvador B. Castro Middle School was named after him several years ago.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...,4019352.story

Many of you know I got my K-12 education in the L.A. Unified School District. What I have highlighted above I experienced it personally. My High School counselor, Mr. Cole, flat out told me this when I told him I wanted to take some classes to prepare for college. "You are a Mexican. You are good with your hands. You should look at a vocation, not college." I share many things with all of you about discrimination I have experienced in my life. I do this not because I am competing in the "Opression Olympics" but because I hope you have found me to be credible through the years and you realize a fellow traveler, me, is sharing with you, it really did and does happen.

I am thankful for many activist that came before me and my generation and the ones that will follow us. There is crossover for many of us in the complexity of who we are and there are commonalities. We all know happiness and sorrow. I really believe most of us want to do better for our world, planet.

04-16-2013, 09:44 AM	#416
Greyson Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Transmasculine/Non-Binary Preferred Pronoun?: Hy (Pronounced He) Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,589 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 21,132 Thanked 8,153 Times in 2,006 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	Sal Castro, Los Angeles Chicano Activist Dies Sal Castro, teacher who led '68 Chicano student walkouts, dies at 79 By Teresa Watanabe April 15, 2013 Salvador Castro, a social studies teacher who played a leading role in the historic 1968 Chicano student walkouts protesting rampant bias and inequalities in the Los Angeles Unified School District, died Monday, the district announced. He was 79. Castro, known as “Sal,” was a Lincoln High School teacher who guided student walkouts at five predominantly Mexican American schools on the Eastside in what came to be seen as a milestone in community activism. The students demanded bilingual education, ethnic studies and other changes at a time when the curriculum largely ignored Mexican American history and educators forbid Chicano students to speak Spanish and often steered them toward menial jobs rather than college despite strong academic abilities, according to the district. Castro was arrested and charged with conspiracy to disrupt public schools and disturb the peace for his alleged role in guiding the “blowouts.” But the charges were eventually dropped and he came to be hailed as a courageous civil rights leader. Salvador B. Castro Middle School was named after him several years ago. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...,4019352.story Many of you know I got my K-12 education in the L.A. Unified School District. What I have highlighted above I experienced it personally. My High School counselor, Mr. Cole, flat out told me this when I told him I wanted to take some classes to prepare for college. "You are a Mexican. You are good with your hands. You should look at a vocation, not college." I share many things with all of you about discrimination I have experienced in my life. I do this not because I am competing in the "Opression Olympics" but because I hope you have found me to be credible through the years and you realize a fellow traveler, me, is sharing with you, it really did and does happen. I am thankful for many activist that came before me and my generation and the ones that will follow us. There is crossover for many of us in the complexity of who we are and there are commonalities. We all know happiness and sorrow. I really believe most of us want to do better for our world, planet. __________________ Sometimes you don't realize your own strength until you come face to face with your greatest weakness. - Susan Gale Last edited by Greyson; 04-16-2013 at 09:55 AM.