Karen Omemoto’s “On Strike! San Francisco State College Strike, 1968-1969:

Karen Omemoto’s “On Strike! San Francisco State College Strike, 1968-1969:

The Role of Asian American Students” highlights the students’ consciousness on matters of diversity. The students protested the increasingly Eurocentric education system and wanted an establishment of ethnic study programs. The strike culminated into a wave of change initiatives and demands by the minority groups such as Asian Americans and the people of color regarding the interests of their communities.

The San Francisco State College Strike formed the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement in the United States based on the call for changes and focusing on inclusivity and diversity in education and curriculum. This also spilled over to other sectors, including health, leadership, agriculture, employment, among others. The 1960s-70s benefited from the 1968 strike regarding the strategizing the educational curriculum to reflect the face of American society. Therefore, the strike made significant differences in education and other related sectors regarding the issues of inclusivity and diversity. This was evident in the institutions, which restructured from the empowerment initiatives to championing diversity in their learning environments. It changed the course of the struggle with increased ethnic consciousness and criticism of the Eurocentric education system.

In the present day, strikes, boycotts, and civil disobedience have done little to impact social change. Consequently, such incidents as the San Francisco State Strike 1968 would not make differences in changing the perception of society. However, it will raise the alarm on the impending situations that should be addressed. In the present day, other powerful tools such as social media, policing, and affirmative actions are employed in achieving the set goals and objectives regarding inclusivity and diversity. Consequently, such strikes at the institutional level will not be as impactful as was in the 1960s based on the change of perceptions, consciousness, and understanding of the diverse needs in the United States.