Index IntroductionEducation Reform in the Chicano MovementFailure of Educational Inequality for ChicanosConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionErnest Vigil's Chicano Militancy and the Government's War on Dissent was one of the most impactful books I have read during my university career. I realized that I was incredibly misinformed about the history of Denver, Colorado, and the Chicano movement that took place where I grew up, and reading about the historical events that happened was truly eye-opening. You are rarely taught the “other side” of the story. That's why this book is so important. To read the story and keep it alive and to understand that the fight is not over yet. Vigil writes about the political movement that began in the 1960s that fought racism, educational inequality, and prejudice against Chicano/Chicana people living in Denver. Virgil touches on many important topics that are still relevant today, including police brutality, racism/discrimination, and inequality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Education Reform in the Chicano Movement One question I asked myself as I read was why I hadn't heard much about the movement that took place in Denver and why I hadn't been taught this in middle or high school. The history that students, including myself, are taught is whitewashed and Anglocentric. Starting in elementary school, when you learn about the “Discovery of America” and are told that Christopher Columbus was the one who discovered America when the Native Americans were already here. One of the most important things you can do to improve yourself is through education. When you cannot get a proper education you are deprived of many opportunities available to others. This is why one of the main goals of the Chicano movement was education reform. Chicanos were challenging what they were taught in school and realizing the injustices Chicano students were experiencing in the education system. Failure of Educational Inequality for Chicanos A large percentage of Chicano students had not graduated from high school and were unable or unwilling to pursue higher education due to discrimination. They did not have the same access to education as white students did, leading to poorly educated Chicanos who would then have to take on job positions like their parents. This systematic failure was no accident: Denver's Chicano school was inadequately funded, had incompetent teachers, and lacked educational resources. “Chicanos were (and still are today) an exploitable workforce who were pushed out of schools through the tracking system where they were placed in job training or programs for the mentally retarded… we got to where we are because there has always been cheap labor around. When we talk about improving the educational prospects of the Mexican-American and helping them to aspire beyond the camps, and curing the problem of high school dropout, we are talking about jeopardizing our economic survival.” (MuRoz, 1989) Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion The situation that Chicano students faced regarding their education is linked to the educational inequality and school-to-prison pipeline that African American students face today. Today we still see systemic racism in our schools. We are/.