Ernestina Garcia: Chicana Leader Milpitas and San Jose, CA 4/4/2017
Ernestina Garcia: Chicana Leader Milpitas and San Jose, CA 4/4/2017
This oral history interview video was filmed on October 17, 2016, as part of the Mexican Family History of Milpitas, California as seen in the pages of El Excéntrico Magazine 1949 – 1981 Exhibit. Two of the three men interviewed commented on her work in training Chicano Women leaders of her era. Las Mujeres de Aztlan group was mentioned in this interview so efforts will be made to contact women named in the video to record their testimony and histories.
In this interview, oral comments were made by Ernestina Garcia's grandson Sergio Sanchez, by Karl Soltero from La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara Valley, and by long-time educator Macario Ortiz who worked for Ernestina Garcia when she served as Executive Director of La Confederacion de La Raza Unida.
A 1980's article in the East Side Sun, reprinted in El Excentrico Magazine at that time, said, "La Confederacion was a group of 54 Chicano organizations in the Santa Clara, California County Region. Their aims were to address injustices felt by Chicanos". The article also said that Mrs. Garcia was an early leader in the 1960s in many issues related to Chicanos.
She was "remembered for her firebrand stands on issues in Milpitas". Some of the issues were about improving school conditions and social studies history recognition of Latinos at Milpitas High School. She was also a leader in the 1969 protest at La Fiesta de Las Rosas Parade in San Jose. She was also involved in protests of the Santa Clara County Sherriff's Office for discriminatory attitudes towards Chicanos.
Additional photos and information about her are on Facebook at La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara Valley and at El Excentrico Magazine Project pages.
A recorded oral interview of Ernestina Garcia is in a collection at the San Jose State University Library. See, Guide to the San José State University Chicano Oral History Collection at:
http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6m3nf1bx/entire_text/
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Obituary of Ernestina Garcia (1919 - 2014)
http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/mercurynews/ernestina-garcia-condolences/173646594?cid=full
Ernestina Garcia
Mar. 13, 1919- Dec. 20, 2014
Resident Of San Jose
She was born in Arizona on March 13, 1919, than moved to California at age five. She lived half her life in the Los Angeles area, marrying Pablo M. Garcia and raising 10 children, Stella (Nunez), Paul Jr., Mercy, Jesse, Virginia, Molly, David, Sylvia, Joseph, and Thomas. She lived the last 50 years in San Jose before passing away on Dec. 20, 2014. In addition to 23 grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren, her younger brother, Alfred Molina, 90, and several nephews and nieces in Sacramento, survives her.
She enjoyed family gatherings, vacationing in Mexico, and trips to Reno and Tahoe. She was kind, caring, and had a great sense of humor.
Viewing Services to be held Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 from 4:00PM to 8:30PM at Chapel of Flowers 900 S. 2nd St., San Jose, CA 95112. Memorial Services to be held on Saturday Jan. 3, 2015 at 10:30AM. Her remains will be cremated.
Chapel of Flowers
900 S 2nd St
San Jose, CA 95112
Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Dec. 30, 2014- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?pid=173646594#sthash.MT8N9GKm.dpuf
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http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt6m3nf1bx/entire_text/ SJSU CHICANO LIBRARY
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Videographer: Ramon J. Martinez Ph.D.
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