Juan Gómez-Quiñones
Encyclopedia
Juan Gómez-Quiñones is an American
historian
, professor
of history, poet
, and activist. He is best known for his work in the field of Chicana/o history. As a co-editor of the Plan de Santa Bárbara
, an educational manifesto for the implementation of Chicano studies programs in universities nationwide, he was an influential figure in the development of the field.
, Mexico
, and raised in East Los Angeles
. He graduated from Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary School
, a Catholic
high school
in Montebello, California
. He subsequently attended the University of California, Los Angeles
, earning his Bachelor's degree
in literature, his Master of Arts
in Latin American studies
, and his doctorate of philosophy in history. His 1972 dissertation was titled "Social Change and Intellectual Discontent: The Growth of Mexican Nationalism, 1890-1911."
He was a founding co-editor of Aztlán, a journal
of Chicano studies.
He began teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles
in 1969, and has held his post for the past forty years. He has served as the director of UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center, as well as on the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
.
for presupposing that "the American and Californian economies would experience a workforce crisis should immigration policy be fully enforced." The profile, citing an unnamed Los Angeles Times article, further claims that Gómez-Quiñones threatened UC Regent Ralph Ochoa with physical violence when, during a community meeting, he asked him to "step outside."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of history, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and activist. He is best known for his work in the field of Chicana/o history. As a co-editor of the Plan de Santa Bárbara
Plan de Santa Bárbara
El Plan de Santa Bárbara: A Chicano Plan for Higher Education was written by the Chicano Coordinating Council on Higher Education as a manifesto for the implementation of Chicano Studies educational programs throughout the state of California...
, an educational manifesto for the implementation of Chicano studies programs in universities nationwide, he was an influential figure in the development of the field.
Youth and education
Gómez-Quiñones was born in the city of Parral, ChihuahuaParral, Chihuahua
Hidalgo del Parral, is a city and seat of the municipality of Hidalgo del Parral in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It is located in the southern part of the state, 220 km from the state capital, the city of Chihuahua, Chih....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and raised in East Los Angeles
East Los Angeles, California
East Los Angeles is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
. He graduated from Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary School
Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary School
Cantwell-Sacred Heart of Mary High School , is a Roman Catholic high school located in Montebello, California, precisely on the border of East Los Angeles and Montebello. It is now owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles...
, a Catholic
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in Montebello, California
Montebello, California
Montebello is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, in the southwestern part of the San Gabriel Valley. It is located on of land just east of downtown Los Angeles. It is considered part of the Gateway Cities, and the city is a member of the Gateway Cities Council of...
. He subsequently attended the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, earning his Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in literature, his Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Latin American studies
Latin American Studies
Latin American studies is an academic discipline dealing with the study of Latin America and Latin Americans.-Definition:Latin American studies critically examines the history, culture, politics, and experiences of Latin Americans in Latin America and often also elsewhere .Latin American studies...
, and his doctorate of philosophy in history. His 1972 dissertation was titled "Social Change and Intellectual Discontent: The Growth of Mexican Nationalism, 1890-1911."
He was a founding co-editor of Aztlán, a journal
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
of Chicano studies.
He began teaching at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 1969, and has held his post for the past forty years. He has served as the director of UCLA's Chicano Studies Research Center, as well as on the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund is a national non-profit civil rights organization formed in 1968 to protect the rights of Latinos in the United States...
.
Criticism
Gómez-Quiñones is criticized by the website www.uclaprofs.com, which publishes a critical profile of him and accuses him of having "based his entire political and personal world around personal ethnic identity." The profile criticizes a 1987 statement Gómez-Quiñones made about the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The Immigration Reform and Control Act , , also Simpson-Mazzoli Act, is an Act of Congress which reformed United States immigration law.In brief the act:* required employers to attest to their employees' immigration status....
for presupposing that "the American and Californian economies would experience a workforce crisis should immigration policy be fully enforced." The profile, citing an unnamed Los Angeles Times article, further claims that Gómez-Quiñones threatened UC Regent Ralph Ochoa with physical violence when, during a community meeting, he asked him to "step outside."
Honors and awards
- (1966–1968) Foreign Area Fellow. Sponsored by the Social Science Research CouncilSocial Science Research CouncilThe Social Science Research Council is a U.S.-based independent nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing research in the social sciences and related disciplines...
and the American Council of Learned SocietiesAmerican Council of Learned SocietiesThe American Council of Learned Societies , founded in 1919, is a private nonprofit federation of seventy scholarly organizations.ACLS is best known as a funder of humanities research through fellowships and grants awards. ACLS Fellowships are designed to permit scholars holding the Ph.D... - (1990) Scholar of the Year Award from the National Association of Chicana and Chicano StudiesNational Association of Chicana and Chicano StudiesNational Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies is "the academic organization that serves academic programs, departments and research centers that focus on issues pertaining to Mexican Americans, Chicana/os, and Latina/os." Unlike many professional academic associations, NACCS "rejects...
- National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow
External links
- Juan Gomez-Quinones history faculty at UCLA