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Issue 68, Volume 77
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Censoring Chicano culture UH-published Hispanic history books get banned from Arizona public school classrooms because of state law Jed Ocot
schools in the beginning of the year. relea APP According to the news release, has moved into a larger locatio location at UH’s Energy Research Park. They no now have more storage space for books, additional a offices for their staff, and room for stateof-the-art book scanners and eequipment necessary for working wit with EBSCO to digitize recov recovered work written by L Latinos from the colonial period to present day. APP is the n nation’s largest and mo most established publisher of contemporary and recov recovered literature by US Hispan Hispanic authors. Books in the series highlight women’s activism, iimmigration reform, educational equity, citizen participation in a democratic society, civic culture an and racial/ cultural relations. “Twenty-five years ag ago, our books were stored in univ university classroom closets closets, and now they sit
THE DAILY COUGAR Arizona’s Tucson Unified nified School District has removed moved books that were published shed by a UH publishing company ompany series from classroomss in order to comply with state law aw ARS 15-112. Two of the seven books ooks being removed from classrooms oms were published as a part of Arte Público Press’ Hispanic ic Civil Rights series. “Chicano! The History ory of the Mexican Civil Rights hts Movement” by Arturo Rosales les and “Message to Aztlán: Selected elected Writings” by Rodolfo Gonzales were banned, said a UH H news EMILY CHAMBERS/THE DAILY COUGAR release. Both books deal with th the Mexican American civil rights hts movement, and their removal val follows the dismantling of Mexican an studies in
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Ethnic course ban Arizona ‘s H.B. 2281 bans courses that do the following: ! ! Promote the overthrow of the United States government ! ! Promote resentment towards a race or class of people ! ! Are designed primarily for pupils of a partiicular ethnic group ! ! Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals Any school not in compliance can have 10 percent of its monthly state aid taken away. Source: Arizona H.B. 2281
in a massive warehouse. But in Arizona, they’re going back into the closet,” said Marina Tristán, APP’s assistant director, in the release. Faculty members in the history department of UH who deal with MexicanAmerican history also commented on this BOOKS continues on page 3
How do you feel about the book ban?
“I think it’s terrible, very closed-mindedness, though not surprising. I feel like it’s also frustrating, like Hispanics are being partly ignored. It’s a suppression of Hispanic History. School is the primary place to learn these things.” Edward Garza
“It makes me upset to think about these books being removed from classrooms. I feel like it’s an underhanded way to oppress these students. But reading about the Arte Publico’s move to a bigger and better setting makes me feel proud that they will continue to make these important pieces of literature available.” Lorriann Rodriguez
What do you think? Let us know by commenting at thedailycougar.com.
“The banning of these books goes beyond the idea of fair. To simply say that it is not fair that only books about the history of the plight of the Hispanic culture have been banned would be to not fully understand the consequence of not having them in the classroom. This is robbing not only Hispanics or women of historical insight, but men and women of all races. I am shocked that even as a third generation Hispanic woman, I am still living in a time where books about the struggle of my foremothers are not allowed to be read.”
“As a student of a Hispanic heritage, having cultural references available to students is extremely important. Throughout my studies at the University of Houston... it’s difficult to imagine that books are being removed from classrooms... US Hispanic Culture and Civilization in particular, provided me with some great insight into the history of not only the Mexican-American culture, but information about other Spanish speaking countries as well. Hopefully this decision will not discourage students who are interested in utilizing these books.”
Krystyna Salinas
Christy Tamez
“Taking away books that credit a race of their excellence does not make Hispanic’s efforts disappear. Just because they ban a couple books does not mean the Hispanic population stops growing. Arizona needs to realize we’re not going anywhere. You can take away valuable pieces of literature from your schools, but that won’t stop the production of thousands more.” Leslie Tooker
— Compiled by Jed Ocot