Resolution declaring Chicano history week.

WORKING DRAFT
2015
STATE OF
WYOMING
15LSO-0481
Numbered
2.1

Senate

JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.

SJ0007

Resolution declaring Chicano history week.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Esquibel, F.

A BILL

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION to declare February 2 through 8, 2015, as Chicano History Week in the state of Wyoming.

WHEREAS,
t
he Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Februar
y 2, 1848, is commonly regarded
as the birth date of Chicanos; and

WHEREAS
, m
indful 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 February 2 through 8, 2015
, Chicano History Week in
Wyoming
.

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
Wyoming
and the nation, serving the arts,

business, media, industry, agricultur
e, education
and society in myriad ways; and

WHEREAS
, d
espite being promised the rights of citizenship by treaty, the early Mexican

Americans

found themselves subjec
ted to losing their land, homes
and property.

Basic rights

were denied, language and cult
ure suppressed
and opportun
ities 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 those of

Mexican descent; and

W
HEREAS
, h
istorian Rodolfo Alvarez has divided the development of this segment of our

population into four
(4)
categories: the creation generation which is pre-1900; the migrant

generation which is allied w
ith Mexico by culture, language
and loyalty; the Mexican-American

generation which
regarded themselves as Ameri
can citizens of Mexican descent;
and the

Chicano generation of t
oday, which is a combination of
, but distinctly separate from the

previous three
(3)
. Chicanos recognize they are the result of a unique confluence of histories,
cultures, languages
and traditions—the mezcla, which is La Raza. During the Chicano

Movement of the 1960's and 1970'
s, valiant Chicanos and Chicanas adamantly decried

capricious attempts by the dominant Anglo culture to mold them into a monocultural,

monolingual image; and

WHEREAS
, i
n a complex and diversified cultural soci
ety, we must understand, accept
and

app
reciate 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
February 2 through 8, 2015
, as Chicano History Week in
Wyoming
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
.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the members of this legislative body
declare February 2 through 8, 2015
, as Chicano History Week in the state of
Wyoming
.

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
Wyoming.

Section 2.

That the secretary of s
tate of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution 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
Wyoming
Legislature.

(END)
1

SJ0007