Walkout

I was amazed that I never knew about this movement, I was in high school/ jr high in the late 80's - early 90's and this should have been a topic with in our US History text. We covered a small portion of the civil rights movement, a large amount with in the 1800's and nothing from the LA walkouts? My children and all children need to know about the strength people have had to make change, it's inspiring. Often people assume that only people hundreds of years ago made the sacrifices and changes, this was not that long ago and shows that people are able to accomplish anything together. I hope our children are as conscientious, caring and strong to stand up for what they believe is making a difference in the quality of the life in the world we share.

"Walkout" tells the story of the students in Los Angeles high schools in 1968, who stage a boycott of their schools in order to improve the quality of education for Chicanos. The film was skillfully directed by Edward James Olmos, who presents the story in a simple, direct way. There was an especially frank portrayal of the unacceptable educational standards in the schools attended by the young Chicano students.

The focal point of the story is the character Paula Crisostomo, an exceptional student, who risked her graduation to participate in the Lincoln High School walkout. A dedicated high school history teacher, Sal Castro, was instrumental in instilling idealism in his students, which resulted in their united efforts for a peaceful protest.

The film captured the passion of Paula in an emotionally-charged relationship with her parents, who strongly resist, but slowly come to understand, their daughter's activism. The entire cast, especially the young performers playing the students, was convincing as an effective ensemble in this fine film.

"Walkout" is another outstanding HBO project that tackles an important subject and provides an exceptionally high-caliber film. From 1968 to 1969, there was a substantial increase in enrollments of Chicano students in American universities, and this change was due to the consciousness raised by people like Paula Crisostomo and her teacher Sal Castro. In this film, Olmos and a superb cast deliver an important reminder about how a small group of young, passionate individuals have the potential to truly make a difference in their world.

First of all, this is the first movie ever about the Chicano civil rights movement. And as many Latinos know, the Chicano civil rights movement created some better opportunity for our people.

The cast is almost entirely Chicano, which is amazing within itself, seeing that Latinos only make up 2% of Hollywood. It gives us a chance to play Characters, and not only the "Brown person".

A piece of history is being told, which has been totally written out of History by the mainstream media & educational institutions. All of the police beating scenes in this movie were re-creations of archived material from TV Stations, which were not allowed to broadcast in 1968.

The protagonist is a young woman who is half Filipina & Mexicana. This is great because revolutionary leaders are usually only seen as tough men. This also shows that oppression crosses all color lines, the issues come down to a class struggle, and this can be a catapult for different ethnicities working together on common issues.

I feel that we should embrace this movie, and create others also, with stories of our peoples struggle. There are several movies about the Jewish struggle, the African American movement for equal rights, women's rights, but this is so far, the only one speaking of the Chicano civil rights struggle.

Not growing up in the 60's (actually being born in 77), I don't have too much of an idea of what happened during these times with the exception of what my parents had told me while growing up. It was interesting to see a lot of it played out on screen.

Growing up in L.A. in the time that I did though and watching this movie showed me that not much has changed. I went to schools in three distinctive area. I attended in private schools, Inner city schools and in nice suburban areas and can tell you there is a significant difference in teaching styles. It is too bad that such a movement did not change that. May I add that I do not believe it is the teachers fault, it has to do with the funds that each area receives.

I feel that some of the people commenting on film have seen it or are commenting on it with a certain "bad vibe" mindset to begin with. I have seen people comment saying it was only Mexican-American or Chicano's leaving the schools, wanting to ditch or etc. That no one else was part of the Walkouts. Which leads me to the following questions; 1. If you were not part of the walkouts (I am assuming this because you say only Mexican-Americans were part of the walkouts) how do you know exactly who attended? 2. How can you tell who is Central American, South American, Mexican? It has been said that the media was not allowed to air certain footage with that being the case, please don't tell me that you got this information through the media.

People on this forum have also stated that the walkouts were a waste of time that because things are the same there was no just cause for them. Would you say the same of the Anti-War Protests of then and now? I mean, we still have wars.

Though in your mind, maybe these walkouts meant nothing or the causes have not changed anything now, they changed thing's then. For those people and to those people it mattered. You may say, "No one that they interviewed became a Lawyer or Doctor, etc. so what were they fighting for?", They were fighting for the education to allow them to advance in whatever path they chose.

I see people put this film down because it is not the way they recalled it and that no one should glamorize this because it was a chance for gang youth to ditch school. Again, if you weren't there how do you know who attended? Every protest and every following has a few bad apples that ruin it for all, it's human nature. Does human nature make their actions acceptable? No, but it is there. (Let's remember the people who bombed SUV dealerships, as I recall they consider themselves Environmentalist and I have seen them only point out White Americans in these cases).

Let us see this film as an educational film. Something to show us a part of history through someone else's eyes. Not butcher the film because of it's message, lighting, acting, writing, etc.

At one point in my life I had someone tell me that she felt sorry for my generation. That I lived in a time where my generation had as many things to deal with, in different forms, as her generation of the 60's and we did not protest. We would just sit around and wait for the problems to resolve themselves. (BTW she was white not Hispanic or of Hispanic descent) If you disagree with the film, that is your opinion and accepted as we are in (technically) the land of the free. You have free speech, use it. Who know's you may direct, write or star in the next best film representing your ideas and how you see the world at hand.

Final words, Watch Rashômon by Akira Kurosawa. It is a film used in Law Schools (the ones where I have attended) to show different points of view.

Remember there are always 4 stories to tell, Your Story, Their Story, The Witness Story and the Truth.

These kids not even old enough to VOTE: With Determination-Organization-UNITY were able to make some changes for themselves and future generations. We can learn from that, their parents learned from them. To many people feel what can I do..its best not to make waves...just shut up and do your job. Its really not when there is injustice, prejudice and racism involved.

Movies like this: Empower people to Unite, Organize and have a Voice!!! Under any circumstances or oppressed situation. The timing of its release was right on target-with the Marches, boycotts and Demonstrations going on in this Country at the time in protest Racism!

I recommend parents watch this Movie with their kids. Well made, good acting and a part of History.