De Colores Means All of Us

Parts 3 & 4
By Richard Castañeda

The environmental racism portion of part 3 was a very engaging read because it showed me a different type of racism. I didn’t know that that sort of environmental racism occurred in this country. I’ve heard of cases in other countries by companies dumping chemicals in local water supplies, but to have that happen in the United States as well is very alarming.
It is interesting to see how racism extends this far. There are obviously more factors to racism other than the economical impact and academic impact that were explored in the first two parts.
Despite the horror stories of poor families enduring such deplorable living conditions, it was very uplifting to read how members within those affected communities stood up for their rights and defeated the corporations that were destroying their neighborhoods. The fact that community organizations took on these corporations and won is a testament to the fact that justice will eventually prevail.
Part 4 was even more inspirational with further exploration into the limitations Chicanos and Latinos face in higher education. The case of Rudy Acuña was interesting because, as a qualified person to teach and lead Chicano Studies at UCSB, he was rejected because of his “radical views.”
I reflected a lot of this section because I have always felt that colleges and universities are a special place for a person to grow. Right after high school that notion that you know everything immediately gets wiped away. The real world seems to arrive at your doorstep without a proper welcome. Sometimes it’s the classmates you meet that influence you to read different books or articles that eventually shape the opinions you carry with you for years to come or your entire life. Sometimes its faculty that inspires you by assigning homework, essays, tests that teach you and also enlighten you.
The reason I state that is because it alarms me that a board of people decides what will be taught to you and whether or not that is the best education you deserve from that institution. It’s very ironic that the board considered Acuña a Marxist and incapable of teaching at UCSB because of his views. Considering their deceitful approach to denying his appointment to UCSB, the board appeared totalitarian.
I would like to think that narrow-minded approach to educational goals does not exist at CSUN. Considering our diversity on campus it would be shame to have people elected to higher positions in this university who control what curriculum is best suited for me with a hidden agenda.