The Chicano Movement of the late 1960's helped spark cultural and historical pride in our people.  Chicanas/Chicanos demanded to be treated as equals and denounce acculturation and assimilation.  Brown pride began to express itself through poetry, literature, art, and theater.  The contributions of the Chicano Movement are numerous and continue to be very valuable to our society.

 Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.) Is a student organization that promotes higher education, cultura, and historia.  M.E.Ch.A. was founded on the principles of self-determination for the liberation of our people.  We believe that the political involvement and education is the avenue for change in our society.

 In March of 1969, at Denver, Colorado the Crusade for Justice organized the National Chicano Youth Conference that drafted the basic premises for the Chicana/Chicano Movement in El Plan de Aztlan (EPA).  A synopsis of El Plan stipulates: 1) We are Chicanas and Chicanos of Aztlan reclaiming the land of our birth (Chicana/Chicano Nation); 2) Aztlan belongs to indigenous people, who are sovereign and not subject to a foreign culture: 3) We are a union of free pueblos forming a bronze Chicana/Chicano) Nation; 4) Chicano nationalism, as the key to mobilization and organization, is the common denominator to bring consensus to the Chicana/Chicano Movement; 5) Cultural values strengthen our identity as La Familia de la Raza; and 6) EPA, as a basic plan of Chicana/Chicano liberation, sought the formation of an independent national political party that would represent the sentiments of the Chicana/Chicano community.

 In April of 1969 over 100 Chicanas/Chicanos came together at UC Santa Barbara to formulate a plan for higher education: El Plan de Santa Barbara.  With this document they were successful in the development of two very important contributions to the Chicano Movement: Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.) and Chicano Studies.

 The fundamental principles that led to the founding of Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan are found in El Plan de Santa Barbara. (EPSB).  The Manifesto of EPSB sees self-determination for the Chicana/Chicano community as the only acceptable way for our people to gain socio-economic justice.  El Plan argues that a strong nationalist identity is a necessary step in building a program of self-determination.  Self-determination, in this regard, challenges those involved in principle struggle to respect the rights of all Chicanas and Chicanos.  EPSB stresses that in organizing M.E.Ch.A. every opportunity must be taken to educate Raza.  At the same time, El Plan exhorts Mechistas to preserve Chicana/Chicano culture in this culturally diverse society, while resisting European colonialism through a strategic use of education, both in the community and on campus.  Thus, a Chicana/Chicano Nation is a necessity defined as an educational, socio-economic, and empowered Chicana/Chicano community.  The Manifesto of EPSB warns us in part.