DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s | ""A Project Proposal for the Mid-west Council of La Raza""

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Ernest Rodriguez' "Impressions," 1960s-1980s

""A Project Proposal for the Mid-west Council of La Raza""

A CHICANO NEWSPAPER
By Ernest Rodriguez

A PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR THE MID-WEST COUNCIL OF LA RAZA

What is the biggest concern of La Raza all over the country? UNITY! Within the meaning of this word is political power, economic power and educational opportunities to attain and strengthen the first two. So if we reason correctly it is the accomplishment of our unity which will be the broad base Chicano power in solving all other problems. My idea to accomplish our UNITY is a relatively simple one in concept but a difficult and complex one in execution and scope. 

First of all we have to feel for each other in order to be united. In order to feel the suffering of our Chicano brothers in the urban barrios and in the fields of the "gringolandia" countryside, we have to know how he is suffering. In other words in the modern day terminology of civil rights militancy, we have to sensitize our people to their common bond of cultural background and experience. To do this we have to inform our people of the problems and activities of Chicanos all over the Midwest and the nation (ours that is). The hermano working the beet fields of Michigan and Minnesota, and the hermano who owns a business in Chicago and Des Moines and the hermano attending Notre Dame University and all the carnales have got to know about each other in order to strengthen the lazos of our carnalismo. The Chicano brother doing migrant labor must know that his hermano who has achieved middle class security and the college student or graduate who has amassed a store of useful knowledge are ready, willing and trying to help him and in turn the latter have got to know or learn in what way he can help his hermano de sangre. 

My answer to all of this is Chicano National newspaper but I will limit my visionary propensity and settle for a Mid-west Chicano newspaper. Now if a newspaper is to gain circulation and grow and sustain itself it must have some profitable return in subscriptions and advertising. And if it is to be an organ representing the interests of all Chicanos or if you prefer la Raza in toto, then the profit must belong to La Raza and channeled to serve their needs. I suppose I'm talking about a non-profit cooperative newspaper. There would be no stock or shareholders and only the staff personnel would be paid. The profit would be used to expand the circulation of the paper and finance projects of a national character to achieve greater unidad and benefit La Raza socially, economically, educationally. 

But let's consider first things first. First we have to compile mailing lists of Chicanos living in the middle west wherever they are concentrated and obtain a non profit mailing permit. I would say we should aim at a one million mailing list. Once compiled then we set about editing a newspaper in which we expound the history and purpose of the Mid West Council of La Raza and the Chicano newspaper. We issue a strong appeal of support of the newspaper at one dollar per family. I believe this initial project will cost around $1000 in mailing and another $500 in compiling lists and preparing the mailings. Now, if our of a million families we break even. I still believe the profit in publicity and informing our people of the existence of the Mid West Council of La Raza would be well worth the expense in dollars and effort. And of course if the popular response was in line with our expectations then we would proceed to recruit Chicano students majoring in journalism and persuading barrio newspaper to pool their resources and talents to help make the venture a successful one.

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A CHICANO NEWSPAPER By Ernest Rodriguez A PROJECT PROPOSAL FOR THE MID-WEST COUNCIL OF LA RAZA What is the biggest concern of La Raza all over the country? UNITY! Within the meaning of this word is political power, economic power and educational opportunities to attain and strengthen the first two. So if we reason correctly it is the accomplishment of our unity which will be the broad base Chicano power in solving all other problems. My idea to accomplish our UNITY is a relatively simple one in concept but a difficult and complex one in execution and scope. First of all we have to feel for each other in order to be united. In order to feel the suffering of our Chicano brothers in the urban barrios and in the fields of the "gringolandia" countryside, we have to know how he is suffering. In other words in the modern day terminology of civil rights militancy, we have to sensitize our people to their common bond of cultural background and experience. To do this we have to inform our people of the problems and activities of Chicanos all over the Midwest and the nation (ours that is). The hermano working the beet fields of Michigan and Minnesota, and the hermano who owns a business in Chicago and Des Moines and the hermano attending Notre Dame University and all the carnales have got to know about each other in order to strengthen the lazos of our carnalismo. The Chicano brother doing migrant labor must know that his hermano who has achieved middle class security and the college student or graduate who has amassed a store of useful knowledge are ready, willing and trying to help him and in turn the latter have got to know or learn in what way he can help his hermano de sangre. My answer to all of this is Chicano National newspaper but I will limit my visionary propensity and settle for a Mid-west Chicano newspaper. Now if a newspaper is to gain circulation and grow and sustain itself it must have some profitable return in subscriptions and advertising. And if it is to be an organ representing the interests of all Chicanos or if you prefer la Raza in toto, then the profit must belong to La Raza and channeled to serve their needs. I suppose I'm talking about a non-profit cooperative newspaper. There would be no stock or shareholders and only the staff personnel would be paid. The profit would be used to expand the circulation of the paper and finance projects of a national character to achieve greater unidad and benefit La Raza socially, economically, educationally. But let's consider first things first. First we have to compile mailing lists of Chicanos living in the middle west wherever they are concentrated and obtain a non profit mailing permit. I would say we should aim at a one million mailing list. Once compiled then we set about editing a newspaper in which we expound the history and purpose of the Mid West Council of La Raza and the Chicano newspaper. We issue a strong appeal of support of the newspaper at one dollar per family. I believe this initial project will cost around $1000 in mailing and another $500 in compiling lists and preparing the mailings. Now, if our of a million families we break even. I still believe the profit in publicity and informing our people of the existence of the Mid West Council of La Raza would be well worth the expense in dollars and effort. And of course if the popular response was in line with our expectations then we would proceed to recruit Chicano students majoring in journalism and persuading barrio newspaper to pool their resources and talents to help make the venture a successful one.