http://borderzine.com/2010/04/mercado-mayapan-celebrates-chicano-power-and-pride/
By Raymundo Aguirre
April 1, 2010
EL PASO, Texas The smell of tacos al pastor greeted visitors of the
Mercado Mayapán like the warmth of a Mexican grandmother's
bosom. Chicanos gathered here surrounded by the beat of indigenous
drums and warm colors for Chicano Power: Legacy of the Chicano
movement in El Paso on a Saturday afternoon.
Throughout the month of February, Museo Mayachén and La Mujer Obrera
presented to the El Paso community different exhibits all having to
do with the struggles of the Chicanos and Chicanas during the 60's
and 70's. Cultural dances, musical performances, and informatory
forums were hosted at the Mercado Mayapán every Saturday in an effort
to bring people to the recently opened museum dedicated to the
Chicano movement in El Paso.
The forum on February 13th was organized by Salvador Avila who
participated as a member of the Brown Berets during the era of the
Chicano movement. "Hoy se hace historia en la comunidad de El Paso,"
Ávila said.
It has been a dream come true for many of the activists involved in
this movement to see a museum erected to honor the struggles of the
time. "[Se hace] un sueño realidad al tener un museo que cuente
nuestra historia por nuestros historiadores y no gente y escritores
que no conozcan nuestra comunidad," said Ávila, "La historia se está
contando del otro lado del punto de vista."
The four speakers of the forum were all active in the struggle for
the Chicano's equality. Each specialized in a main respective
activity: health, housing, politics, and legal matters. Alfonso Frias
worked for many years in the area of health. Jesus Quesada has been
working since the 60's with the renters of El Paso's Segundo Barrio.
Carmen Rodriguez has also helped the struggles of the community since
the 60's and is now an established attorney in El Paso. Jesus B.
Ochoa is a Navy veteran and a retired trial lawyer who has been
involved in everything from denim strikes, to political organizing,
and UTEP student walkouts.
"The identity of any group is the first step towards successful
action, whether it is in the streets or in the courts," said Jesus
Ochoa. One of the four members in the Chicano Power forum, the stoic
Ochoa stood holding his large wooden staff. With a red woven
headband on his head of gray hairs, he spoke about the much-debated
term that was chosen to embody the new generation of American born
youth with Mexican or Latin American roots during the age of civil
rights. "Out of those struggles, we became know as Chicanos. We got
rid of the Mexican-American label," Ochoa said.
During the 15 minutes that each of the four panelists held the floor,
they discussed four questions designed to inform the audience of
their involvement as well as the importance of the movement as a
whole. The questions covered their beginnings into their respective
fields, events and activities in which they were involved,
achievements reached through their efforts, and lessons left behind
for the future. "Ahora podemos decir, 'Aquí está un museo'. Pueden
traer a sus estudiantes, y pueden traerlos para que puedan ver un
poco de historia," said Ávila.
.
0 comments:
Post a Comment