Past and Present: A Lack of Educational Opportunities

Past:

The East Los Angeles Walkouts or Chicano Blowouts of 1968 were a pivotal moment in time for Chicanos. Thousands of students in the Los Angeles area walked out of their high schools. These walkouts were done in protest of the poor educational opportunities that were being offered to Chicano students. The unequal conditions in LAUSD high schools led to a high percentage of dropouts. Students had become fed up with the quality of their education they decided to take matters into their hands and were able to meet with the board of education in order to enact the students' demands. This lack of education or poor quality of education was not affecting schools in predominately white areas. Chicano students formed coalitions in order to help each other achieve a greater education. Students met with the board of education; in this meeting, students came up with a list of demands which they felt were the most important issues that affected their education.


Present:

The 1992 LA riots signified a change, they demonstrated the frustration that many felt. Frustrated due to the fact that they were being mistreated and ignored. There were numerous injustices that preceded the 1992 LA riots and there has been little effort made to change these injustices. To this day there are many schools in East Los Angeles that still do not have the educational opportunities that schools in predominantly white areas have. Many Latino students continue to fight for justice and equality within the educational system.


--Aurosal Ayuso