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Chicano conference programs and speeches, April 1973-May 1974

1973-04-15 Des Moines Register Article: 'Chicanos hold conference""

'Viva la Raza' and 'Chicano Power' echo heard
Chicanos hold conference 
By MAUREEN CONNORS 
JALAYNE SMELTZER
STEVE ZACHERTT
Staff Writers
Action and unity were called for in the speeches, workshops, teatro productions and films and even in the patches saying "Chicano power" at the Chicano '73 conference held in Iowa City Friday and Saturday.
A few gringos, blacks and Indians were among the 9000 people but the Chicanos - the people "el color de cafe" as entertainer Daniel Valdez called them dominated the conference.
Friday night, before the opening address at MacBride Hall friends were welcoming friends not with a "hello" or a "hi" but a firm, three-motioned handshake. A Chicano from the Chicago delegation said, like the mestizo head, the three parts of the handshake Aztec Indian and the Spaniard that make up the heritage of the Chicano. 
Any non-speaking eavesdropper was in for a night of disappointments as introductions, conversations and gossippping-along with 50 per cent of Friday night's program-were in spanish
The crowd gave the cue for Friday's program to begin by clapping in unison, an action which became a common occurance throughout the convention. It began slow and gradually grew faster and faster until it ended abruptly.
Geore Garcia, Ui Chicano history instructor opened the conference with an address on Chicano history in the midwest.
He said it is necessary to know midwest history to better understand thr Chicano. Unlike other immigrants, he continued, the Chicanos haven't become part of the melting pot as predicted in a 1948 study.
"Maybe the Mexican has vanished but the Chicano is here," Garcia said.
California based entertainer Daniel Valdez, guitar in hand, sang a 50-minute history of the Chicano tracing the hopes Mexicans had of America, the Spanish-American Revolution, Mexico after the revolution, the shame Mexicans suffered for being in the land of the gringo, the first fight for dignity and self-respect for their children and the new world of the Chicano.
There was clapping, shouting, whistling or silence as the overhead lights diminished or brightened on Valdez after each verse. Ehen his song was over the crowd was on its feet yelling "otra, otra." Valdez came back to the stage, raised his hand and shouted "Viva la Raza." The crowd echoed him. 
The group migrated to a reception at the Chicano-Indian Culture Center where people were sipping beer and soda, taking pictures, talking, laughing and listening to Mexican music playing.
Friday's atmosphere of partying changed to one of work as five workshops and a speech by Jose Angel Guitierrez, founder of La Raza Unida highlighted the day.

Challenge
Speaking on the Chicano on the Eve of Century III, Gutierrez issued a challenge to the Chicanos to take over the insitutions, the economic base and educational systems in their communities where they are a majority.
he went on to say that America has linguistically and culturally raped the mind of the Chicano.
"La Raza Unida must be more than a button we wear on our lapels, it must become a reality."
Gutierrez emphasized that it was the imperialistic Americans that took away our land and then ecploited Chicano labor to build the land up for the white man's use. He started that there remains four major tasks on the eve of Century III for the Chicano to persue:
-The Chicano must continue this movement of consciouness in Atzlan.
-Chicanos everywhere must join with their brothers of the Southwest. "We are all La Raza Unida."
-The Chicanos must continue 

Continued on page two 

Viva la causa
members of the Teatro de Zapata extoll the merits of la revolucion during the Chicano convention on Saturday.
Staff photo

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'Viva la Raza' and 'Chicano Power' echo heard Chicanos hold conference By MAUREEN CONNORS JALAYNE SMELTZER STEVE ZACHERTT Staff Writers Action and unity were called for in the speeches, workshops, teatro productions and films and even in the patches saying "Chicano power" at the Chicano '73 conference held in Iowa City Friday and Saturday. A few gringos, blacks and Indians were among the 9000 people but the Chicanos - the people "el color de cafe" as entertainer Daniel Valdez called them dominated the conference. Friday night, before the opening address at MacBride Hall friends were welcoming friends not with a "hello" or a "hi" but a firm, three-motioned handshake. A Chicano from the Chicago delegation said, like the mestizo head, the three parts of the handshake Aztec Indian and the Spaniard that make up the heritage of the Chicano. Any non-speaking eavesdropper was in for a night of disappointments as introductions, conversations and gossippping-along with 50 per cent of Friday night's program-were in spanish The crowd gave the cue for Friday's program to begin by clapping in unison, an action which became a common occurance throughout the convention. It began slow and gradually grew faster and faster until it ended abruptly. Geore Garcia, Ui Chicano history instructor opened the conference with an address on Chicano history in the midwest. He said it is necessary to know midwest history to better understand thr Chicano. Unlike other immigrants, he continued, the Chicanos haven't become part of the melting pot as predicted in a 1948 study. "Maybe the Mexican has vanished but the Chicano is here," Garcia said. California based entertainer Daniel Valdez, guitar in hand, sang a 50-minute history of the Chicano tracing the hopes Mexicans had of America, the Spanish-American Revolution, Mexico after the revolution, the shame Mexicans suffered for being in the land of the gringo, the first fight for dignity and self-respect for their children and the new world of the Chicano. There was clapping, shouting, whistling or silence as the overhead lights diminished or brightened on Valdez after each verse. Ehen his song was over the crowd was on its feet yelling "otra, otra." Valdez came back to the stage, raised his hand and shouted "Viva la Raza." The crowd echoed him. The group migrated to a reception at the Chicano-Indian Culture Center where people were sipping beer and soda, taking pictures, talking, laughing and listening to Mexican music playing. Friday's atmosphere of partying changed to one of work as five workshops and a speech by Jose Angel Guitierrez, founder of La Raza Unida highlighted the day. Challenge Speaking on the Chicano on the Eve of Century III, Gutierrez issued a challenge to the Chicanos to take over the insitutions, the economic base and educational systems in their communities where they are a majority. he went on to say that America has linguistically and culturally raped the mind of the Chicano. "La Raza Unida must be more than a button we wear on our lapels, it must become a reality." Gutierrez emphasized that it was the imperialistic Americans that took away our land and then ecploited Chicano labor to build the land up for the white man's use. He started that there remains four major tasks on the eve of Century III for the Chicano to persue: -The Chicano must continue this movement of consciouness in Atzlan. -Chicanos everywhere must join with their brothers of the Southwest. "We are all La Raza Unida." -The Chicanos must continue Continued on page two Viva la causa members of the Teatro de Zapata extoll the merits of la revolucion during the Chicano convention on Saturday. Staff photo