A Thought for Inspiration and a History Lesson

Did you know that great people DO come from Tepetongo? Does Julian Nava ring a bell to any of you? Well, he should and if not ask your parents (Julio is homies with him). He has been a civil rights and equal education advocate and has been a prime figure in many U.S. Hispanic triumphs. His parents were born in Tepetongo but migrated to Los Angeles (Boyle Heights to be exact) during the same time our Grandfather came to the U.S. During the Los Angeles Economic Depression in 1930 the Repatriation Program that was designed to deport all immigrants (this is when employers began to ask for citizenship) forced his family to pack up their belongings and return to Tepetongo but on the way to the train Julian's appendix ruptured and needed emergency surgery. That forced the family to stay in L.A. which was not a bad idea considering his future to come. So you ask what's the big deal with Julian Nava? 

Time Line: 

1927 - He was born

1945 - joined the Naval Air Corps he then returned from duty and enrolled in East L.A. Community College. He then transferred to Cal Poly Pomona which he was one of 4 students with a Spanish surname. Then he received his Ph.D in History from Harvard, again one of the first Mexican-Americans to attend college (his GI Bill helped him financially).

1955 - He taught in Puerto Rico for 2 years 

1957 - Professor at Cal State Northridge

1967 - Member of the Los Angeles Board of Education (1st Hispanic ever). He was a board member for 12 years and president. He dealt with the famous East L.A. school walkouts in 1968. He was really good friends with Sal Castro, the Lincoln High School teacher who inspired the students to fight against inferior education and discrimination against Latinos. During this time he was also a catalyst in the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. He fought for higher education and began to give away scholarships with his own money. His election to office also stimulated the Chicano Movement. Another accomplishment during office was his idea and implementation of the "Concentrated Learning Centers" in which the name was changed to how we know them now. Magnet Schools. 

1980 - U.S. Ambassador to Mexico (1st Hispanic EVER). Jimmy Carter personally contacted him to offer the position.

1993 - Ballbearer for Cesar Chavez (they were homies. Him and Cesar were part of the CSO and then parted away as Cesar began his United Farm Workers)

1993 - He attempted to run for major of L.A. (to become the first Hispanic ever) but was not elected.

Julian now lives in San Diego with his family. He did return to Tepetongo, as my mom remembers, to give back to the school (the one in front of El Jardin) by buying new desks, chairs and some painting.

Be proud of your roots. Acknowledge our history and the people that have paved the way for our own success. 

"I have been reproducing myself and paying back the help others gave to me along the road to college teaching" 

-Julian Nava

Adeedodoo is inspired by Julian Nava