“Chicano I & II: The Mexican American Heritage Series” was a groundbreaking television series that first aired in July 1971 on KNBC-TV in Los Angeles. NBC also aired the twenty-program series on its stations in Chicago, New York, Cleveland, and Washington D.C. For the first production of its kind by a national commercial television network, several of California’s first Chicano Studies professors were recruited to examine history and culture from the Chicano perspective as well as to explore contemporary issues facing the Mexican American community. Individual program creators of the “Chicano I” programs were Jose H. Cuellar, Frank H. Cruz, Richard Romo, Carlos Arce, Manuel Ramirez PhD., Tomas Martinez PhD., Ernesto Galarza PhD., Federico Sánchez, Paul Sánchez, Ron Lopez, Simon Gonzalez PhD., and Julian Nava PhD. History professor Frank H. Cruz hosted each of the programs.
Fifty years after the series originally aired, 10 programs comprising “Chicano I” have recently been digitized by the HMH Foundation Moving Image Archive at USC Cinematic Arts and are available here online for academics, students, and the general public. While no film exists from the “Chicano II” portion of the series, transcripts of all 20 programs can be accessed at many university libraries: Here
The history of how the series was created is detailed in Frank Cruz’ memoir, “ Straight Out Of Barrio Hollywood: The Adventures of Telemundo co-founder Frank H. Cruz,” which he co-authored with Rita Joiner Soza. If you have questions regarding the Chicano series or Frank Cruz please email cruzmemoir@outlook.com
NOTE – The show was initially broadcast live in Los Angeles in color, at which time B/W kinescopes were produced. Program host, Frank Cruz was given kinescopes for all episodes of the first series in 1972 and these are the copies we have scanned and presented here.
EPISODE 1 — AZTLAN
July 5, 1971
Host Frank Cruz introduces Jose B. Cuellar, M.A., Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, who describes the contributions made by Mexican ancestors in “Aztlan” or as we know it the Western Hemisphere. The program also looks at the cultural influences made and how these influences have affected United States Southwest even in contemporary times.
EPISODE 2 — MYTHS OF THE SOUTHWEST
July 6, 1971
Dispels the many popular myths about the Northwest Mexico Territory (Southwest United States) that have been handed down unquestioned for several generations by American historians. Guest narrator is Richard Romo, San Fernando Valley State College, who explains that one of the myths has been one that glorifies the Anglo’s contributions to American society, yet minimizes contributions made by other ethnic groups.
EPISODE 3 — MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR PERIOD
July 7, 1971
Host Frank Cruz examines the Mexican American War of 1846. Myths , Legends and half-truths associated with this period are examined. The reasons for the war, motives, fault, and what the war means to the Mexican resident of the United States today is also explored. .
EPISODE 4 — CONFLICT AND RESISTANCE: MYTH OF DOCILITY
July 8, 1971
This program deals with the period from 1848 to 1930, and documents the conflict between the Mexicano and the Anglo-American, highlighting the Mexican struggle for determination. Guest narrator is Carlos Arce, Assistant Professor and Chairman , Chicano Studies Department, San Fernando Valley State College.
EPISODE 5 — SPIDERS IN THE HOUSE
July 9, 1971
The first program with a contemporary theme. It deals with the labor-manpower provided by the Mexicano in the economic and agricultural development of the area. The program looks specifically at the history of the farm laborer, the migrant worker, and the reasons one had to take up this type of work, Guest is noted historian and labor authority Dr. Ernesto Galarza
EPISODE 6 — THE WAR YEARS
July 12, 1971
Guest is Federico Sanchez, assistant professor of Chicano Studies at Cal State Long Beach. Sanchez traces the years during World War II, focusing on the era of the Mexican-American zoot suiter (also known as the “pachuco”) and contributions made to the war effort
EPISODE 7 — ECONOMIC REPRESSION OF THE CHICANO
July 13, 1971
Paul Sanchez , Dean , Graduate School of Social Work at San Jose State College, examines reasons for the low economic situation prevalent with most Chicano families. Discussed are the issues of the braceros’ effect on the farm labor market; education employment discrimination by Anglo employers and unions; and what the future holds for the Chicano
EPISODE 8 — MEXICAN AMERICANS AND EDUCATION: QUO VADIS AMERICA?
July 14, 1971
Experts discuss the failure of public education in the Mexican-American community. Guests are Ron Lopez , Director, Mexican-American Center , Claremont Colleges; Dr. Simon Gonzalez, a UCLA Administrator; and Dr. Julian Nava, President , Board of Education of Los Angeles.
EPISODE 9 — BARRIO LIFE AND CULTURAL DEMOCRACY
July 15, 1971
Problems created by the Anglo society and their effects on barrio residents are detailed by Manuel Ramirez, Ph.D., University of California Riverside.
EPISODE 10 — STEREOTYPING IN THE MASS MEDIA
July 16, 1971
Dr. Tomas Martinez, Assistant professor of sociology at Stanford University, examines the unfair way Chicanos have been portrayed in newspapers, movies, magazines and television.