What can art teach us about history, culture, and social issues? During the Chicano movement of the 1960s, murals became key forms of expression for Mexican Americans seeking to tell the stories of their culture and the struggles of daily life brought on by social and economic inequalities.
Today, the mural movement is regarded as a continuation of the artistic tradition established by influential Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. With a wealth of vibrant source material, this movement is the perfect foundation for engaging lessons on Mexican American history and culture.
For a jumping-off point, read the following essay on Chicano art, complete with accompanying examples of murals and illustrations:
These resources are part of ABC-CLIO’s The Latino American Experience database dedicated to exploring the history, heritage, and culture of Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Guatemalans, Cubans, Dominicans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, and other Latino peoples in the United States. Click here to activate your free preview of this database and gain access to:
- More than 700 biographies of famous political and social figures, including Simón Bolívar, David Farragut, Rita Hayworth, Sonia Sotomayor, and many more
- Articles illustrating the histories of all the countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Iberian Peninsula, including those on indigenous peoples, the Hispanic Diaspora, and modern-day Latin American countries
- CLIOview tool that allows students to make comparisons and graph statistical data in more than 25 demographic categories unique to the Latin American community, such as population levels, employment rates, and more
