Rethinking Campus Life by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783319756141
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Coronel made a passionate plea to Mexican Americans in the barrio in an article appropriately titled “Give Yourself a Chance”:AMBITION is that strong mover that stands between desire and success…Talent and capacity are not lacking in us. What is lacking is GUTS, AMBITION, FAITH, ANIMATION, and greatest of all A DESIRE TO ELEVATE OUR MEXICAN RACE!37

Overall, MAM leadership was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging, attempting to instill confidence in those young men and, occasionally, women in the barrio who may not have had hope in their futures.

In this vein, Mexican Youth Conference and MAM leaders printed success stories in The Mexican Voice of dozens of Mexican American young men and women. They did so with the expressed intent of inspiring their brethren. For example, in the September 1938 edition, contributors presented a profile of Stephen Reyes, the president of the 1937 San Pedro Conference. According to the article, Reyes picked oranges during the summers throughout high school to pay for college. He commuted seven miles to junior college, where he received an Associate of Arts degree in Letters and Science. After junior college, Reyes received student loans and worked part-time to help pay for college at UCLA . Upon graduation in 1938, he taught night school classes at a junior college and directed a local playground. Reyes hoped to return to UCLA for a master’s degree.38

Through this and other examples, MAM not only encouraged progress through education, but also advocated for self-help through alternative means. The leadership of the organization recognized that for many in the Mexican American community, earning a college degree was nearly impossible. Consequently, MAM advocated for self-improvement through any avenue or channel available. These avenues included, among other ways, learning a trade. MAM published a story in The Mexican Voice about Johnny Gutiérrez—the cousin of Felix Gutiérrez —who earned a living as an aviation mechanic and supported his twelve brothers and sisters. After reciting Johnny’s story, Felix Gutiérrez challenged Mexican Americans:Why can’t you do this in whatever field you choose? It takes a sacrifice to reach the goal, but once you “get there” it must be swell to have the warm feeling of accomplishment go through you. Don’t let your being dark, your being of Mexican descent stop you. That is only an excuse. Johnny is dark. He works in a field few, very few, of Mexican descent do. You see, when you do a job well, expertly, people take you for what you’re worth.39

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