Reading and Writing Workshop

The Civil Rights Era and Immigration Reform (1960s-1970s) 
A focus on the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, demographic changes, and grassroots activism.

Session 1: The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act)
Objectives:

• Understand the historical background leading to the 1965 Act.
• Explore the civil rights climate that shaped immigration reform.

Readings:

1. Excerpt from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (Hart-Celler Act)
   • https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-79/pdf/STATUTE-79-Pg911.pdf
     (Primary source text of the Act)
2. "The Changing Face of Immigration" (1960s overview)
   • https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/immigration/immigration-overview.html

Writing Prompt:

• How did the Hart-Celler Act reshape the concept of who could become American? Write a response connecting it to civil rights movements of the 1960s.

Session 2: Impact on Asian, African, and Latin American Immigration
Objectives:

• Analyze how the 1965 Act shifted immigration patterns from Europe to Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
• Understand immigrant narratives post-1965.

Readings:

1. Helen Zia, Asian American Dreams (Selection provided in-class)
2. "An American Mosaic: The Asian American Experience" (Library of Congress)
   • https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/asian-american/

Writing Prompt:

• After reading immigrant accounts, write a personal narrative from the perspective of an immigrant who arrived post-1965. How does the policy shift impact their journey and experience?

Session 3: Changing Demographics in Urban Centers
Objectives:

• Investigate how immigration after 1965 changed American cities.
• Connect demographic shifts to social and cultural transformation.

Readings:

1. "The City in the 20th Century" (Urban population changes)
   • https://www.census.gov/history/pdf/citypopchart.pdf
2. Excerpt from Jacob Riis, How the Other Half Lives (1890) for a historical urban comparison
   • https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/45502

Writing Prompt:

• Compare how immigration patterns impacted urban spaces in the early 20th century vs. the late 20th century. Focus on a major city of your choice (e.g., Los Angeles, New York).

Session 4: The Rise of the Chicano Movement
Objectives:

• Introduce Chicano Movement origins and demands.
• Analyze how Mexican American activism intersects with broader civil rights struggles.

Readings:

1. Chicano Movement Manifestos and Speeches (1960s-1970s)
   • https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/chicanomanifesto.html
     (Selections from "El Plan de Aztlán" and speeches by Cesar Chavez)
2. “The Mexican American Civil Rights Movement” (Public Broadcasting Service)
   • https://www.pbs.org/latino-americans/en/article/mexican-american-movement/

Writing Prompt:

• Create a manifesto or speech inspired by Chicano Movement leaders, addressing an issue faced by your community today.

Session 5: Asian American Activism in the Civil Rights Era
​Objectives:

• Understand Asian American solidarity with other civil rights movements.
• Explore activism’s role in creating a pan-Asian identity.

Readings:

1. Helen Zia, Asian American Dreams (Continuation from Session 2)
2. "Asian Americans and the Civil Rights Movement" (National Park Service)
   • https://www.nps.gov/articles/asian-americans-and-the-civil-rights-movement.htm
3. Public domain: "Four Immigrants Manga" by Henry Kiyama (1919)
   • https://archive.org/details/fourimmigrantsma0000kiya
     (While pre-1965, it provides early Asian immigrant narratives to contrast with later activism)

Writing Prompt:

• How did Asian American activism during the Civil Rights Era influence modern social justice movements? Use specific examples from your readings.

Optional Culminating Project:

• Create a multimedia presentation or research paper comparing the impacts of the Hart-Celler Act on two immigrant communities (e.g., Asian American and Chicano communities).