Rep. Schor offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 212.

            A resolution to declare January 31-February 6, 2016, as Chicano History Week in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, February 2, 1848, is commonly regarded

as the birth date of Chicanos; and  

Whereas, Mindful that history reveals a host of contradictions regarding the nationality of people whose lands were ceded to other countries by treaty, it is a privilege and a pleasure to declare January 31-February 6, 2016, as Chicano History Week in Michigan. We extend accolades of tribute, high praise, appreciation, and appropriate recognition to these North Americans and their descendants whose citizenship, under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, literally changed overnight from Mexico to the United States of America. They have contributed to the economy, development, and growth of the state of Michigan and the nation, serving the arts, business, media, industry, agriculture, education, and society in myriad ways; and

Whereas, Despite being granted the rights of citizenship, the early Mexican-Americans found themselves subjected to losing their land, homes, and property. Rights were denied,   language and culture suppressed, and opportunities for employment, education, and political representation thwarted. As with many national boundary changes resulting from war treaties, historical documentation was destroyed and constitutional rights were abrogated, leaving them stripped of their identity, unique culture, and recorded contributions to society. The presumed superiority of their conquerors resulted in promoting a disparaging image of a debased,

dishonest, cruel, lazy, vengeful, and degenerate society. This self-fulfilling, ethnocentric perception subsequently justified their definition of a Mexican problem in terms of non-assimilation even in the eyes of some Mexican-Americans; and

Whereas, During the cultural revolution of the 1960's and 70's, valiant Chicanas adamantly decried such capricious attempts by the dominant Anglo culture to mold them in the Anglo image. The late Rueben Salazar, internationally known Los Angeles Times reporter, considered to be a leading "voice of reason" of the times was "accidentally" killed by the Los Angeles Police in 1970. At the time he was killed, he was covering what started out as a peaceful demonstration by Chicanos against the injustices of a cruel society; and

Whereas, Historian Rodolfo Alvarez has divided the development of this segment of our population into four categories: the creation generation which is pre-1900; the migrant generation which is allied with Mexico by culture, language, and loyalty; the Mexican-American  generation which regarded themselves as American citizens of Mexican descent; and the Chicano generation of today, which is a combination of, but distinctly separate from the previous three; and

Whereas, In a complex and diversified cultural society, we must understand, accept, and appreciate all traditions and life-styles in order to eliminate prejudice and other effects of stereotyping which have plagued our nation for centuries. It is truly appropriate to declare January 31-February 6, 2016, as Chicano History Week in Michigan and to accord recognition to the cultural and intellectual development of a people with a proud past, inclusive of not only American accomplishments but also those of Spanish origin which predated the first English settlement in the United States by over half a century and the pre-Columbian Indian cultures of the ancient Aztec, Mayan, and other civilizations; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare January 31-February 6, 2016, as Chicano History Week in the state of Michigan. We commemorate the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, and recognize the contributions of Chicanos across the nation and in the state of Michigan; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to appropriate officials of high standing in the state and to representatives of the coalition of Chicano and Latino organizations in support of this resolution as enduring testimony of the high esteem in which the ancestors and descendants of Chicanos and Chicanas are held by the Michigan Legislature.