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Chicano conference programs and speeches, April 1973-May 1974

1973-04-14 Keynote Speech Page 12

implemented the imperialist control of almost the world. It is these political parties that exclude us financially as Nixon is doing now from the mainstream of American life. It is these political parties that as citizens have kept us on a third rung of the ladder. So on the eve of the new American Century there are before us four tasks. That is first we must continue this movement in Atzlan, this movement of consciousness and awareness, this movement toward liberation. Second, we must begin looking and joining hands with the brothers to the South because we are all Raza, we are all Mestizos. By the time the year 2 thousand arrives there will be three times the number of Raza to the South as there will be people to the North. Third, we must continue not only in private but in public to be aggressive, to be defiant, to resist and maintain our individuality. This business about being part of the melting pot, being part of pluralistic society in America is a lie. My contributions to this country should not be measured in terms of how many Taco Bells there are in this country. It was us who layed the railroad tracks. It is us who still collect those potatoes so all of us can eat them. It was us who fought the ugly wars of this imperialistic nation. Our contributions should be well remembered and spoken loudly at any gathering so we are respected as different but equal, that we are respected as defiant but proud and knowledgeable. We are respected as Chicanos who know who we are and more importantly to know what we want, that's the creation of a nation within a nation. Finally, that we must take the words "La Raza Unida" and make them more than just a button that we wear, or a slogan that we shout and make Raza Unida a reality. So, when there are brothers oppressed in Iowa, we all come to Iowa. When there are Indians being abused at Wounded Knee we are there. When there are raids on other parts of the world called in defense of Liberty and Justice then we stand up and call it what what it is. It is imperialism. Same thing that goes on in our barrios. Because our barrios are colonies and experience the same fight against imperialism we must help other people and stand in solidarity with others but we must first liberate ourselves. Imperialism is something we must end before the next century. 

We must have control of the educational system that teaches our children. We must have control of the economic system in our communities that presently rips off the community where we live and take our money outside the community to the suburbs. We must control our local institutions such as law enforcement so instead if being brutal agents of our people they are brothers to our people, are counselors to our people.

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implemented the imperialist control of almost the world. It is these political parties that exclude us financially as Nixon is doing now from the mainstream of American life. It is these political parties that as citizens have kept us on a third rung of the ladder. So on the eve of the new American Century there are before us four tasks. That is first we must continue this movement in Atzlan, this movement of consciousness and awareness, this movement toward liberation. Second, we must begin looking and joining hands with the brothers to the South because we are all Raza, we are all Mestizos. By the time the year 2 thousand arrives there will be three times the number of Raza to the South as there will be people to the North. Third, we must continue not only in private but in public to be aggressive, to be defiant, to resist and maintain our individuality. This business about being part of the melting pot, being part of pluralistic society in America is a lie. My contributions to this country should not be measured in terms of how many Taco Bells there are in this country. It was us who layed the railroad tracks. It is us who still collect those potatoes so all of us can eat them. It was us who fought the ugly wars of this imperialistic nation. Our contributions should be well remembered and spoken loudly at any gathering so we are respected as different but equal, that we are respected as defiant but proud and knowledgeable. We are respected as Chicanos who know who we are and more importantly to know what we want, that's the creation of a nation within a nation. Finally, that we must take the words "La Raza Unida" and make them more than just a button that we wear, or a slogan that we shout and make Raza Unida a reality. So, when there are brothers oppressed in Iowa, we all come to Iowa. When there are Indians being abused at Wounded Knee we are there. When there are raids on other parts of the world called in defense of Liberty and Justice then we stand up and call it what what it is. It is imperialism. Same thing that goes on in our barrios. Because our barrios are colonies and experience the same fight against imperialism we must help other people and stand in solidarity with others but we must first liberate ourselves. Imperialism is something we must end before the next century. We must have control of the educational system that teaches our children. We must have control of the economic system in our communities that presently rips off the community where we live and take our money outside the community to the suburbs. We must control our local institutions such as law enforcement so instead if being brutal agents of our people they are brothers to our people, are counselors to our people.