Streaming videos from Films on Demand may be accessed through the library's Palomino Search or from the Library Database page under the Streaming Video header.
To access Films on Demand Latino Studies Collection, click here.
To access Kanopy Latin American Studies Collection, click here.
To access Mexican American studies films from Academic Video Online (Alexander St. Press), click here and use search terms Mexican American or Chicano.
In the 1950s, America’s public schools teemed with the promise of a new, postwar generation of students, over half of whom would graduate and go on to college. This program shows how impressive gains masked profound inequalities: 17 states had segregated schools; one percent of all Ph.D.s went to women; and "separate but equal" was still the law of the land. Interviews with Linda Brown Thompson and other equal rights pioneers bring to life the issues that prompted such milestones as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title IX, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. (55 minutes)
DOCUMENTARY- Willie Velasquez: Your Vote is Your Voice
Political empowerment for Latinos in the United States has always been difficult. A Mexican-American butcher's son from Texas, Willie Velasquez questioned the lack of Latino representation in his city's government, propelling him into a lifelong battle to gain political equality for Latinos. This documentary examines obstacles Latinos had to overcome to obtain representation, and addresses issues facing Latinos today.
Luis Valdez is the celebrated founder of the Teatro Campesino, the West Coast theatrical group that has given voice to the struggles of Chicano farm workers. As a child, Valdez picked fruit alongside his father in California’s fertile valleys. In this program, he describes how he overcame the handicaps of migrant life to become a playwright and director, and explains how his plays retrace the experiences of Chicano families as they contend with the adversities of rural life or the equally squalid and deprived circumstances of life in the city. (26 minutes)
Habla Texas
In this film, discover the challenges and advantages of being a part of the Mexican American community from the members themselves. Hear from men and women who each have a unique perspective to add to the story of Latin culture in America, from difficulties with name pronunciations to celebrations of soccer. Twelve individuals share personal anecdotes and opinions that contribute to the culture as a whole. An HBO Production.
DOCUMENTARY- Latino Americans: The 500-Year Legacy that Shaped a Nation (Episode 5)
Witness the creation of the proud 'Chicano' identity as labor leaders organize farm workers in California, and as activists push for better education opportunities for Latinos, the inclusion of Latino studies and empowerment in the political process.