#Severita Lara

[bumblebeeappletree]

In 1969, the Latino students of Crystal City, TX, staged a school walkout that sparked a revolution and changed history. The story inspired the play “Crystal City 1969” by Latinx theater company, Cara Mía Theatre.

Dulé Hill arrives in Dallas, Texas to learn more about the Cara Mía Theatre production, “Crystal City 1969.” The play was inspired by events that took place in the town of Crystal City, Texas in 1969. At that time, the town had a majority Chicano population, yet public school students faced discrimination in class, and were corporally punished for speaking Spanish. One of the students, Severita Lara, was beaten and suspended for passing out leaflets about Latino students’ unfair treatment. Meanwhile, the Mexican American Youth Organization (MAYO), began organizing school protests across the country in the spirit of civil rights. José Angel Gutiérrez, born and raised in Crystal City, was sent back to his hometown by MAYO to organize the students for protest.

The students’ activism sparked a revolution in Crystal City, and changed the political landscape in the town. They organized a school walkout that called for the right to speak Spanish, along with 17 other demands for equality and fairness. The students’ activism eventually brought them to Washington, DC, and inspired more Latinos to run for city government and the school board in Crystal City. In the end, all the students’ demands were met in a sweeping victory.

[chulisimx]

Severita Lara

I got to meet my one if the biggest influences ever the other day. Severita Lara, from Crystal City Texas, organized walk outs in her high school when she and her fellow Chicano classmates weren't allowed to run for student office, drive their cars into the parking lot, try out for cheerleading or other sports and other things because of racism. She organized that and when she got older became the mayor. I got to meet Severita Lara the other day. It was wonderful 💕