Activists are calling to remove the Texas textbook for Mexican-American heritage and history, arguing it makes false statements that promote harmful stereotypes. For example, the textbooks argue that Mexican laborers “were not reared to put in a full day’s work so vigorously,” and that Mexican-Americans “are ambivalent about assimilating into the American system.” The textbook also states that the 1960’s Chicano movement, a movement that fought for the rights of Latino Americans, “opposed Western civilization and wanted to destroy this society.”
Professors have also argued that the book is not written by people academically qualified to speak on Mexican-American history. Activists have started a petition to remove the textbooks from Texas schools. Watch this video from Fusion to learn more.