La Gran Historia de mi Raza: América
Synopsis
This poster is an informational and educational advertisement for a new educational curriculum in the U.S. The mood is historic, and filled with pride because it is highlighting Mexican independence and pre-colonial Aztec history. Images of the past surround two young contemporary Mexican-American students at center, one boy and one girl. The poster appears to have been geared toward promoting a new curriculum adaptation for bilingual and bicultural education in the San Diego school system. It was likely part of the Chicano movement, and was aimed at enriching the region’s educational programs.
Dates
- Creation: 1974-1983
Creator
- From the Collection: Sandoval Fernandez, Carmen (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Annotation
The poster itself is not dated, but it does refer to the CANBEE project, which was active in the 1960s and 1970s. CANBEE stands for “Curriculum Adaptation Network for Bilingual Bicultural Education.” In 1970, Leonard Fierro became the director of CANBEE in the Far West Region. Fierro was an SDSU graduate, a war veteran, and was well-known for his extensive work as a local San Diego educator, activist, and advocate for bilingual education. Fierro’s association with CANBEE began in the 1960s when he helped create culturally relevant supplementary materials for first through third grade. Fierro also helped establish the Association of Mexican-American Educators (AMAE), the San Diego County Chicano Federation, and the Mexican-American Advisory Committee (MACC), an anti-poverty organization. Fierro’s name appears on the back of the poster, along with the following address: Far West Region, 2950 National Ave, San Diego, CA.
Depicted in the poster are heroes of Mexican history, including Benito Juarez, the first ever Indigenous president in Mexico; Miguel Hidalgo, the leader of the Mexican Independence War; and Emiliano Zapata the most legendary Mexican revolutionary leader from the early 1900s. Ancient Aztec leaders are also portrayed, including the Aztec king Cuauhtémoc, and Moctezuma, the Aztec king who was assassinated by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (depicted at top-left). Another colonizer depicted is the explorer Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus).
Also included are Mexican patriotic symbols and images associated with ancient mythology. On the right appears an Olmec colossal head, underscoring the impressive designs and engineering prowess of this ancient culture. The double-headed snake is another pre-colonial mythological icon of the Aztecs. Lastly, the image of an eagle eating a snake on top of a cactus, the symbol of the Mexican flag, represents the founding myth of the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. All of these illustrations help to communicate the values of Fierro’s innovative ESL bilingual curriculum programs. Together these images and symbols are aimed at guiding Chicano students and providing a sense of community and inspiration for the next generation of Chicano youth.
Extent
From the Collection: 0.30 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: Spanish; Castilian
From the Collection: English
Description
This poster depicts Aztec, Mexican, and Mexican-American history by showcasing portraits of Mexican heroes, colonial figures, and ancient Indigenous leaders and mythological characters, including Miguel Hidalgo, Benito Juarez, and the Aztec double-headed serpent (Maquizcóatl)–each one labeled with their name and birth date. These figures lie within a thinly framed margin and surround the faces of two young modern-day students at the center. These images are composed of detailed line work that uses a cross hatching technique. The word “AMÉRICA” appears handwritten in capitalized letters across the bottom, inside a double headed snake’s body. We also see an artist’s signature inside the serpent: “Velasquez.” Above “AMÉRICA” is a circle containing an image of an eagle landing on a cactus. At top, we see the main headline in capitalized sans serif typeface: “LA GRAN HISTORIA DE MI RAZA” (the great history of my race). At the bottom in the same typeface is written “FAMOUS PERSONS.” Overall, the poster is in good condition, except for a small scratch at the bottom left corner and a slight yellow fade. Measuring 25.19 inches by 18.89 inches (64 by 48 cm), the paper has a stock-like consistency, and a matte finish. A stamp on the back indicates the poster’s sponsor, CANBEE (Curriculum Adaptation Network for Bilingual Bicultural Education).
Dimensions
Poster, black and white, 25.19 in. x 18.89 in. (64 x 48 cm)
Sponsor
Curriculum Adaptation Network for Bilingual Bicultural Education
Processing Information
Metadata created by Yaritza Cristina Cuevas Larin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections & University Archives Repository