KTLA News: "Mexican history mural at Thomas Jefferson School in Compton" (1972)

[Silence]. [Dr. Goodman] It took about a year and a half with a  considerable amount of research work being done by the individual students and, of course, their art teacher. [Unidentified Reporter] Why was it done? What was the motivating force? [Dr. Goodman] There was a need for a self expression  within the Hispanic-American community in Compton and the Compton Unified School District felt that  since Thomas Jefferson School was in a barrio, that there was a need to represent the background of the Mexican people here. Well I feel that we have the only mural that actually takes the Mexican history and carried it forward to a cultural achievement within the United States. For the last section of the mural we would call "El Proceso Chicano" representing the feeling and spirit of the people here and of course the various organizations that participated, particularly the Mexican civic organization at Thomas Jefferson School, was very highly involved in discussing and arranging the last a section of the mural. [Silence]. [Unidentified Reporter] Dr. Goodman, who did this mural? Who painted it? [Dr. Goodman] Members of uh...the Compton Unified School System and an art class, Mr. De Leon. Also members participated as consultants  in the "comite civico" of Thomas Jefferson School- Mrs. Esperanza-Lopez being our president and Mr. Jose Roque (?), a very active coordinator in our district, who helped bring  the people together to participate in the development of this Hispanic mural. [Unidentified Reporter] How long did it take? What  effect has it had on the students or even adults who view it? [Dr. Goodman] Well, the students are very proud.  They feel that now Thomas Jefferson School is the only school that offers a marvelous education. The principal, Mr. George Lash, has presented many members of the community and actually had become quite involved in giving explanations concerning the mural himself. But the effect upon the community is to elevate the pride that this community has within its school system and  actually be very proud of their heritage and background and actually become part  of the American society. [Unidentified Reporter] Significant figures and dates are a part of the mural naturally, what effect now will they have on Independence Day, for instance? [Dr. Goodman] Yes, well in the mural we see Padre Hidalgo, actually called "El Grito," he is carrying the banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the date is listed as  September 16, 1810 and here the Mexican people in this community will be tremendously proud  to see that their school system acknowledges this date as well as the entire state of California and for this the Compton Unified School District is very proud. [Unidentified Reporter] Well, it's a tremendously cultural  country. Why is there this problem of getting the uh... members, the Mexicans, to recognize this? [Dr. Goodman] Well, the problem really isn't to get the Mexican people to recognize it. It is to take this recognition that was here and to present it to all, both Anglo and "Mexicano," and also become involved with a Chicano  expression within the southern Los Angeles area. [Unidentified Reporter] Dr. Goodman, do you see this   mural as substituting for some lack of uh... school...formal school education in our system? [Dr. Goodman] I see it as an acknowledgement  that we must go forward and offer all peoples a background in their cultural heritage and for  this we have tremendous community involvement and our unified school system requests that  members of the community participate in all areas of the curriculum- within the school and without. [Unidentified Reporter] Some of the depiction here is the movement of the Mexican culture into the United States. Do you see other murals carrying this theme forward? [Dr. Goodman] No. [Unidentified Reporter] How do we  greet the Mexican-American on that day? [Dr. Goodman] "Bueno que vida Mexico." "Que viva la independencia." [Unidentified Reporter] Thank you, sir. [Dr. Goodman] Thank you very much. [Silence].