DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s | Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 1

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Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s

Illinois Commission on Problems of Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 Page 1

PRESENTATION BY ERNEST RODRIGUEZ

Illinois Commission on Problems of the Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970

I want to thank the commission for inviting me here today to testify in behalf of my people. 

I believe that during the course of these hearings you have been presented with many specific problems of La Raza, the Mexican people. 

Therefore I', going to speak on problems of a general nature. 

The problems of Mexican Americans in the Midwest and here in the Quad-City area are the same as the problems our our Chicano brothers in the Southwest.

The only difference is in degree because we are fewer in number here that in the Southwest. But the problems are no less serious because fewer of us suffer from them,

Let me say in all honesty that there is no Mexican problem per se. 

The big problem that creates problems for us is white America's racism. It is your handup, white America.

If white Americans would determine to cure themselves of this sickness our problems would disappear. 

The very fact that the Chairman of this commission is not a Mexican American the very need of a commission hear our problems is indicative of white racism. Hearings in South West No doings. 

The Chicago area alone has over 1/2 million Mexican people. 

Isn't there any Mexican Americans in the State Legislature? If not !

Why Not?

Why also weren't these hearings set on a Saturday?

99% of the Mexican people are working people including myself and the others who have testified here. 

We've had to lose wages to be here at your convenience to testify about our problems you say you are interested in doing something about. 

And yet you set this meeting at your convenience with your expenses paid by the State.

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PRESENTATION BY ERNEST RODRIGUEZ Illinois Commission on Problems of the Spanish-speaking, June 5, 1970 I want to thank the commission for inviting me here today to testify in behalf of my people. I believe that during the course of these hearings you have been presented with many specific problems of La Raza, the Mexican people. Therefore I', going to speak on problems of a general nature. The problems of Mexican Americans in the Midwest and here in the Quad-City area are the same as the problems our our Chicano brothers in the Southwest. The only difference is in degree because we are fewer in number here that in the Southwest. But the problems are no less serious because fewer of us suffer from them, Let me say in all honesty that there is no Mexican problem per se. The big problem that creates problems for us is white America's racism. It is your handup, white America. If white Americans would determine to cure themselves of this sickness our problems would disappear. The very fact that the Chairman of this commission is not a Mexican American the very need of a commission hear our problems is indicative of white racism. Hearings in South West No doings. The Chicago area alone has over 1/2 million Mexican people. Isn't there any Mexican Americans in the State Legislature? If not ! Why Not? Why also weren't these hearings set on a Saturday? 99% of the Mexican people are working people including myself and the others who have testified here. We've had to lose wages to be here at your convenience to testify about our problems you say you are interested in doing something about. And yet you set this meeting at your convenience with your expenses paid by the State.