Final answer:
Cannibal and the Headhunters is significant as per Steven Loza for being a rock and roll band from the LA Mexican community that reflected the Chicano movement's sentiments. The band's impact is rooted in the broader context of Chicano activism and their fight for social justice and equality during the 60s and 70s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement by music historian Steven Loza that Cannibal and the Headhunters were considered by many to be the most significant rock and roll band to emerge from the Mexican community of Los Angeles touches upon a broader historical context involving the Chicano movement of the 1960s and 1970s. This movement was marked by significant events such as the Chicano Moratorium, which was an organization that connected Chicano activism with the antiwar movement, focusing on the disproportionate number of casualties among Chicano soldiers during the Vietnam War. The most famous act of the Chicano Moratorium was a large march and protest in East Los Angeles in 1970, which highlighted issues like police brutality and social justice, also reflected in the music of the era.
Music became a powerful tool for cultural expression and political activism during this time. It's important to note that bands like Cannibal and the Headhunters contributed to the identity and voice of the Chicanos, influencing both the musical landscape and the societal awareness of Chicano issues within Los Angeles and beyond. Hence, their significance in rock and roll extends beyond just the music they created—it embodies the struggles and aspirations of the community during a tumultuous period in American history.