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El Laberinto, 1971-1987
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1 EL TEATRO PERFORMS FOR RAZA IN THE FIELDS "Our fiestas are explosions. Life and Death, joy and sorrow, music and mere noise are united, not to re-create or recognize themselves, but to swallow each other up. There is nothing so joyous as a Mexican fiesta, but there is also nothing so sorrowful. Fiesta night is also a night of mourning." Octavio Paz-El Laberinto de la Soledad. On Thursday, September 14, there was a gathering of Raza to celebrate a birthday--el cumpleanos de Mexico. The fiesta took place in an isolated farming region southwest of the Quad-Cities. This area is occupied every year between June and October by Chicanos from Rio Grande Valley who come--ironically enough--to pick for the Anglo grower a plant that was first domesticated by Indians in Mexico over 5,000 years ago--tomate. It has been estimated that over 200 migrant families come to live in small dispersed camps and work for over 35 tomato growers. The fiesta was a complete success. It is all history now. All that is needed to complete this chapter in the autobiography of La Raza es alguien componga un corrido de lo que paso. La fiesta was an unprecedented event. It took place in a tent at the farm of one of the largest tomato growers. ("La Carpa" was set up by the Illinois Migrant Council of Rock Island to provide better services to the migrants, such as English classes, leadership discussions, driver education and lectures on other topics such as health, nutrition, and planned parenthood.) The turnout was a record crowd. An estimate of over 300 hombres, mujeres and ninos came to see performances by the Chicanitos of the Migrant child Development Center (MCDC) in Edgington, Illinois and El Teatro de La Raza from the Chicano Indian Cultural Center, the University of Iowa. El Teatro came to perform at the invitation of MCDC, begun by Migrant children Inc. for the specific purpose of providing a complete educational program for children ages 2-6 who come with their parents during the tomato season. The children of the MCDC performed Mexican stories, poems, and songs. Their presentation ended with the singing of "De Colores." The audience joined in the singing and in the end awakened the fields and its inhabitants with chants of "Que Viva La Raza!"--another first for "La Carpa." El Teatro also had its "firsts." It was El Teatro's first performance in a tent, and its first performance before Chicano migrants, our brothers in the fields. El Teatro gave one of its best performances. The Chicanismo spirit which engulfed the atmosphere that night has replaced the morbid Anglo stench. Gracis al Teatro; el espiritu del movimiento has touched and captured more Raza. And with the help of our trademark, the restless wind, it will "ride" back to El Valle and spread like unchecked mold on white bread. Los ninos de la esquelita en Edgington, y la comunidad de campesinos les da las gracias al grupo de Chicanos de la universidad que vinieron a la carpa: Rusty, Roberto y Yolanda, Ricardo, Armando, Jose, Ben, Elisa, Rosa, Diana, Gloria, Bob, Paula, Eduardo, Daniel. Tambien les damos las gracias a Juan Castillo y Sister Lucinda Munoz del Illinois Migrant Council que nos ayudaron con la cerveza. EDITOR'S NOTE: Arturo Ramirez, director of the MCDC, is a graduate student in Anthropology at the University of Iowa and a member of the Chicano Indian Student Union. More information about his work available at the center. (115 N. Clinton
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1 EL TEATRO PERFORMS FOR RAZA IN THE FIELDS "Our fiestas are explosions. Life and Death, joy and sorrow, music and mere noise are united, not to re-create or recognize themselves, but to swallow each other up. There is nothing so joyous as a Mexican fiesta, but there is also nothing so sorrowful. Fiesta night is also a night of mourning." Octavio Paz-El Laberinto de la Soledad. On Thursday, September 14, there was a gathering of Raza to celebrate a birthday--el cumpleanos de Mexico. The fiesta took place in an isolated farming region southwest of the Quad-Cities. This area is occupied every year between June and October by Chicanos from Rio Grande Valley who come--ironically enough--to pick for the Anglo grower a plant that was first domesticated by Indians in Mexico over 5,000 years ago--tomate. It has been estimated that over 200 migrant families come to live in small dispersed camps and work for over 35 tomato growers. The fiesta was a complete success. It is all history now. All that is needed to complete this chapter in the autobiography of La Raza es alguien componga un corrido de lo que paso. La fiesta was an unprecedented event. It took place in a tent at the farm of one of the largest tomato growers. ("La Carpa" was set up by the Illinois Migrant Council of Rock Island to provide better services to the migrants, such as English classes, leadership discussions, driver education and lectures on other topics such as health, nutrition, and planned parenthood.) The turnout was a record crowd. An estimate of over 300 hombres, mujeres and ninos came to see performances by the Chicanitos of the Migrant child Development Center (MCDC) in Edgington, Illinois and El Teatro de La Raza from the Chicano Indian Cultural Center, the University of Iowa. El Teatro came to perform at the invitation of MCDC, begun by Migrant children Inc. for the specific purpose of providing a complete educational program for children ages 2-6 who come with their parents during the tomato season. The children of the MCDC performed Mexican stories, poems, and songs. Their presentation ended with the singing of "De Colores." The audience joined in the singing and in the end awakened the fields and its inhabitants with chants of "Que Viva La Raza!"--another first for "La Carpa." El Teatro also had its "firsts." It was El Teatro's first performance in a tent, and its first performance before Chicano migrants, our brothers in the fields. El Teatro gave one of its best performances. The Chicanismo spirit which engulfed the atmosphere that night has replaced the morbid Anglo stench. Gracis al Teatro; el espiritu del movimiento has touched and captured more Raza. And with the help of our trademark, the restless wind, it will "ride" back to El Valle and spread like unchecked mold on white bread. Los ninos de la esquelita en Edgington, y la comunidad de campesinos les da las gracias al grupo de Chicanos de la universidad que vinieron a la carpa: Rusty, Roberto y Yolanda, Ricardo, Armando, Jose, Ben, Elisa, Rosa, Diana, Gloria, Bob, Paula, Eduardo, Daniel. Tambien les damos las gracias a Juan Castillo y Sister Lucinda Munoz del Illinois Migrant Council que nos ayudaron con la cerveza. EDITOR'S NOTE: Arturo Ramirez, director of the MCDC, is a graduate student in Anthropology at the University of Iowa and a member of the Chicano Indian Student Union. More information about his work available at the center. (115 N. Clinton
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