Introducing AMAZING STS Alums!
Meet Sal Castro...
In March
1968, nearly 10,000 Mexican American students from five Los Angeles high
schools walked out on their classes to protest the disparaging conditions of
their educational system. During the historic
10-day “Blowouts,” students brought the Los Angeles school system to a sudden standstill. This event signified the beginning of the Chicano civil rights movement.
Sal Castro was a motivating force in these protests as he inspired students to reach their potential and made it his mission to educate them about their Mexican-American heritage. When his high school students expressed their concerns about limited resources and opportunities, he listened. He strongly believed in the importance of education and supported them as they fought for a better education system. Shortly after the protests, Sal and twelve others were prosecuted by the county Grand jury for conspiring to instigate the walkouts. They were freed on bail thanks to monetary contributions from Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, 1968 presidential candidates who also believed in equality for all.
Sal always continued his commitment to youth through his coordination of the Chicano Youth Leadership Conference. All the students that have participated in the CYLC have an 84% graduation rate from four-year colleges and/or universities. During his lectures, Sal shares his own experiences during the time of the “Blowouts” and discusses the contributions of other Mexican-Americans to the United States.
10-day “Blowouts,” students brought the Los Angeles school system to a sudden standstill. This event signified the beginning of the Chicano civil rights movement.
Sal Castro was a motivating force in these protests as he inspired students to reach their potential and made it his mission to educate them about their Mexican-American heritage. When his high school students expressed their concerns about limited resources and opportunities, he listened. He strongly believed in the importance of education and supported them as they fought for a better education system. Shortly after the protests, Sal and twelve others were prosecuted by the county Grand jury for conspiring to instigate the walkouts. They were freed on bail thanks to monetary contributions from Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy, 1968 presidential candidates who also believed in equality for all.
Sal always continued his commitment to youth through his coordination of the Chicano Youth Leadership Conference. All the students that have participated in the CYLC have an 84% graduation rate from four-year colleges and/or universities. During his lectures, Sal shares his own experiences during the time of the “Blowouts” and discusses the contributions of other Mexican-Americans to the United States.
His work
was so important that he was featured in the documentary, “Chicano!” (1996). That same year he was invited to the White
House by President Clinton in May 1996.
Later, Edward
James Olmos directed and Moctezuma Esparanza produced the HBO movie, “Walkout”
(2006), bringing to life the dramatic protest that served as the driving force
of the Chicano civil rights movement.
Sal
overcame discrimination as a youngster in elementary school, throughout high
school and as an adult proudly wearing his US Military uniform and despite of
these arduous times, he became an educator, activist, author, and constant advocate
of equality in educational opportunities for Chicano youth. Sal attended many other
schools, including Belvedere Elementary, schools in Mexico, and Cathedral High
School.
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| Click here to purchase |
“Blowouts!”
Sal
Castro’s book is available through Amazon.com, but you can click on the
link and purchase directly. Sal spoke to the Class of 2012 at St.
Thomas
and will be invited for a return performance to speak to the Class of
2013.
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