New Mexican-American studies textbook

being slammed as misleading

By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 06.02.16
Word Count 823

Actors dressed in Aztec costumes hold up the Pan American Games ame at the Pyramid of the Sun at the Teotihuacan
archaeological site in Mexico in this June 2007 le photo. One critique of the proposed Texas history textbook, "Mexican
American Heritage," is the portrayal of a man in a headdress performing an Aztec dance. Critics say the image is a
misleading representation of a Mexican-American. Photo: AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo

The Texas State Board of Education has made more space for the Latino community in
Texas textbooks. Scholars and activists have been asking for this representation for years.
The result, however, is far from what they imagined.
The board approved the inclusion of Mexican-American studies textbooks in state schools
last year. For the rst time, a book centered on Mexican-Americans is on the proposed list
of textbooks for the 2017-2018 academic session.
The book, called "Mexican American Heritage," was originally quoted by the Texas
Observer earlier this month. It has already become the subject of heated debates.

Not The First Textbook To Be Criticized

Texas textbooks have long attracted criticism, particularly on their handling of race and
religion. One history book characterizes slaves as immigrant "workers."

These incidents have prompted national concern because the state is a large textbook
market. Texas can inuence textbook offerings across the country.
"Mexican American Heritage" is the latest proposed book to cause an outcry.
Latino scholars and activists say that the textbook is not an accurate representation of
Mexican-Americans. Instead, the book offers a misleading and sometimes unfair history of
Mexico and Mexican-American immigrants.

"Poorly Written, Racist"

Tony Diaz is a Houston radio host and director of Intercultural Initiatives at Lone Star
College-North Harris. He told the Houston Chronicle that they wanted Mexican-American
texts to be included. However, they did not expect to be shown the way they were in
"Mexican American Heritage."
"Instead of a text that is respectful of the Mexican-American history, we have a book poorly
written, racist, and prepared by non-experts," he said.
The problematic elements of the textbook begin on its cover. It shows a photograph of a
man wearing a colorful headdress. A Web search reveals that the image, available for
public use under a "Creative Commons" license, depicts an "Aztec Dance Look." The
native dance is popular in Mexico, but is a misleading image of Mexican-Americans, critics
said.

Typical Stereotyping?
Scholars also took issue with the book's description of the Chicano movement, which
fought for Mexican-American empowerment in the 1960s. According to "Mexican American
Heritage," "Chicanos ... adopted a revolutionary narrative that opposed Western civilization
and wanted to destroy this society."
The terms "Chicano" and "Mexican-American" are often used in the same way. However,
the book states on an earlier page that the term refers to journalist Ruben Salazar's
denition, "a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself."
At other times, the book links Mexican-Americans with those who cross the U.S.-Mexico
border without permission. It then connects Mexican-Americans to the illegal drug trade.
Mexican pride in the book is associated with creating divisions in society. The book implies
that their continued connection with their culture is hurting American culture.
Some parts of the text speak of Latin American immigrants as a single unit. Others,
however, distinguish Mexican-Americans as culturally separate. The book's authors, Jaime
Riddle and Valarie Angle, describe Cubans as tting in well in Miami and the business
world. They say that Mexican-Americans, on the other hand, are disconnected from
American values.

Anyone Can Be An Author

Angle's online business prole lists her as a "Subject Matter Expert" at Momentum
Learning, the book's publisher. The Associated Press reported that the company is owned
by Cynthia Dunbar. She is a former member of the Texas State Board of Education. Dunbar
is also a well-known right-wing activist and author of the book "One Nation Under God:
How the Left is Trying to Erase What Made Us Great."
In the book, Dunbar calls the U.S. public education system "tyrannical." She has not yet
commented on the backlash against "Mexican American Heritage."
Douglas Torres-Edwards coordinated a Mexican American Studies course approved by
the Texas Education Agency (TEA). He told the Houston Chronicle that he will not be
recommending the textbook. He said the author is not recognized as being someone who
studies Mexican-American issues.
Any author can submit their book for approval for use in schools. However, local educators
told the Chronicle that they were not aware of a call for submissions on Mexican-American
studies texts.

Still Time To Comment

Nicolas Kanellos is a University of Houston professor who directs America's largest
publisher of current literature by U.S. Hispanic authors. He said certain people are just
trying to make money from the textbook and are watering down Mexican-American history.
DeEtta Culbertson, a TEA spokeswoman, spoke to the AP. She said that the TEA followed
its usual process when calling for instructional material submissions this year.
She added that Texans can submit comments about the proposed books until September.
Then, a committee of teachers and administrators will review them and recommend books
to the state board of education.
Books that make the board's recommended materials list need not be taught in schools,
and some schools have already been using books that did not undergo the board
approval process. One such text is F. Arturo Rosales's "Chicano: The History of the
Mexican American Civil Rights Movement."

Quiz
1

According to the article, how are schools in other states affected by Texas textbooks?
(A)

Other states buy textbooks rst adopted in Texas because they are high
quality.

(B)

Textbooks bought by Texas have already been approved for use in other
states.

(C)

Other states buy Texas textbooks because they are sold at a lower price.

(D)

Choices made in Texas inuence what textbooks become available in other

states.

Read the following sentence from the section "Poorly Written, Racist."

"Instead of a text that is respectful of the Mexican-American history, we

have a book poorly written, racist, and prepared by non-experts," he
said.
What is MOST likely the reason why the author included this quote from Tony Diaz?

(A)

Tony Diaz has written his own Mexican-American textbook.

(B)

Tony Diaz was interviewed by the Houston Chronicle.

(C)

Tony Diaz is an authority on Mexican-American history and can explain

people's concerns.

(D)

Tony Diaz works at a college where many Mexican-American students

attend.

Read the following selection from "Typical Stereotyping?"

Some parts of the text speak of Latin American immigrants as a single

unit. Others, however, distinguish Mexican-Americans as culturally
separate. The book's authors, Jaime Riddle and Valarie Angle,
describe Cubans as tting in well in Miami and the business world.
They say that Mexican-Americans, on the other hand, are
disconnected from American values.
Which of the following words from the section helps you understand what the term "culturally
separate" means?
(A)

single unit

(B)

describe

(C)

business world

(D)

disconnected

Read the following sentence from the section "Not The First Textbook To Be Criticized."

Latino scholars and activists say that the textbook is not an accurate
representation of Mexican-Americans.
Which sentence from the article provides an example of what the author meant by the phrase
"not an accurate representation"?
(A)

Texas textbooks have long attracted criticism, particularly on their handling

of race and religion.

(B)

He told the Houston Chronicle that they wanted Mexican-American texts to

be included.

(C)

The native dance is popular in Mexico, but is a misleading image of

Mexican-Americans, critics said.

(D)

He told the Houston Chronicle that he will not be recommending the

textbook.

Answer Key
1

According to the article, how are schools in other states affected by Texas textbooks?
(A)

Other states buy textbooks rst adopted in Texas because they are high
quality.

(B)

Textbooks bought by Texas have already been approved for use in other
states.

(C)

Other states buy Texas textbooks because they are sold at a lower price.

(D)

Choices made in Texas influence what textbooks become available in

other states.

Read the following sentence from the section "Poorly Written, Racist."

"Instead of a text that is respectful of the Mexican-American history, we

have a book poorly written, racist, and prepared by non-experts," he
said.
What is MOST likely the reason why the author included this quote from Tony Diaz?

(A)

Tony Diaz has written his own Mexican-American textbook.

(B)

Tony Diaz was interviewed by the Houston Chronicle.

(C)

Tony Diaz is an authority on Mexican-American history and can explain

people's concerns.

(D)

Tony Diaz works at a college where many Mexican-American students

attend.

Read the following selection from "Typical Stereotyping?"

Some parts of the text speak of Latin American immigrants as a single

unit. Others, however, distinguish Mexican-Americans as culturally
separate. The book's authors, Jaime Riddle and Valarie Angle,
describe Cubans as tting in well in Miami and the business world.
They say that Mexican-Americans, on the other hand, are
disconnected from American values.
Which of the following words from the section helps you understand what the term "culturally
separate" means?
(A)

single unit

(B)

describe

(C)

business world

(D)

disconnected

Read the following sentence from the section "Not The First Textbook To Be Criticized."

Latino scholars and activists say that the textbook is not an accurate
representation of Mexican-Americans.
Which sentence from the article provides an example of what the author meant by the phrase
"not an accurate representation"?
(A)

Texas textbooks have long attracted criticism, particularly on their handling

of race and religion.

(B)

He told the Houston Chronicle that they wanted Mexican-American texts to

be included.

(C)

The native dance is popular in Mexico, but is a misleading image of

Mexican-Americans, critics said.

(D)

He told the Houston Chronicle that he will not be recommending the

textbook.