El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor
by Aurelio Manuel Montemayor & Thomas Ray Garcia
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El Curso de la Raza, is not just a narrative of personal experiences; it's a profound and inspiring pilgrimage of a life dedicated to activism, education, and concientización, within the Chicano movement in Texas during the 1960’s and 70’s. Through the lens of Aurelio Montemayor's life, co-authored by him and Thomas Ray Garcia, readers are taken on a rollercoaster ride of consciousness, exploring the intersectionality of religion, activism, and identity.
Left with his adoptive mother because his white biological mother’s family would not accept a “Mexican baby”, it seems as if Montemayor’s life was pre-destined to fight for Chicana/o civil rights. Throughout his journey he would meet many formidable people such as Dr. Hector P. Garcia, Dr. Americo Paredes, Paulo Freire, Dr. Emilio Zamora and many others. With a vision of accelerating a “renewed Chicano cultural renaissance”, Mr. Montemayor co-creates, “El Curso de la raza” in an attempt to “shift the status of the poor…energize hotbeds of collective action in politics, instigate cultural re-awakening and spur economic growth”. He testified on the U.S. commission on Civil Rights hearing on December of 1968. and co-found the first Mexican-American college, Colegio Jacinto Trevino. This book is a valuable resource for teachers, professors, and their students, offering a testimony of a real agent of change who isn’t afraid to show some of his most vulnerable moments during his fight for Mexican-American civil rights. It is important for up-and-coming leaders to be aware of the obstacles they might face and that heroes are also human. El Curso de la Raza is more than a memoir; it's a testament to the enduring spirit of Chicano activism and the quest for social justice. Montemayor's journey exemplifies the profound impact of individual agency and collective action in reshaping narratives and reclaiming cultural heritage. As Montemayor eloquently concludes, "Even failures... are success for La Raza if there is a resulting awareness," reminding us of the transformative power of resilience and consciousness in the pursuit of justice and equality." |
Aurelio Manuel Montemayor is an educator and educational trainer from San Antonio, Texas. With a career in education spanning five decades, he is the developer of the Family Leadership in Education Model for the Intercultural Development Research Association.
Thomas Ray Garcia is a writer, educator, and entrepreneur from Pharr, Texas. He is the author of the award-winning short story volume The River Runs, and he serves as the founder and executive director of the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP).
El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor is a publication by Texas A&M University Press.
Thomas Ray Garcia is a writer, educator, and entrepreneur from Pharr, Texas. He is the author of the award-winning short story volume The River Runs, and he serves as the founder and executive director of the College Scholarship Leadership Access Program (CSLAP).
El Curso de la Raza: The Education of Aurelio Manuel Montemayor is a publication by Texas A&M University Press.
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