Rodolfo “Corky” GonzalesAnd the Crusades for Justice

Early LifeCorky was born in Denver on June 18, 1928 to Federico and Indalesia Gonzales.

He was the youngest of five brothers and three sisters, Nattie, Beatrice, Tomas, Esperanza, Federico, Severino, and Arturo.

Corky's mother died when he was two years old and his father never re-married, but managed to keep the Gonzales family together.

The children grew up in the tough eastside barrio of Denver during the devastating Depression. Rodolfo said, "Though the Depression was devastating to so many, we, as children, were so poor that it (the Depression) was hardly noticed."

Mr. GonzalesFederico Gonzales had emigrated from Mexico to Colorado early in life.

He was always telling his children stories of the Mexican Revolution, Mexico’s history, and the pride of the Mexican people.

Corky’s father was an influential figure in his life.

Why Corky?Rodolfo was a very active child.

His uncle gave him this nickname because “he was always popping off like a cork”.

Corky as a teenager

EducationCorky earned his high school diploma at the age of 16.

He worked in the beet fields and at various other jobs that left little time for study.

He attended many schools including schools in New Mexico as well as schools in Denver, Gilpin, Whittier, Lake, Baker, West, and finally Manual High School from which he graduated in 1944.

During his final year in high school and the subsequent summer, Corky worked hard to save money for a college education.

With a keen interest in engineering, Corky entered the University of Denver, but after the first quarter realized that the financial cost was insurmountable.

Rodolfo then pursued a career in Boxing.

Boxing Career 1947-1955

Rodolfo became one of the best featherweight (125 lb) fighters in the world.

Even though Ring Magazine ranked Corky number three in the world, he never got a justly deserved title shot

Fight Records: won 65, lost 9, draw 1.

The Crusade for Justice

In 1966, Rodolfo founded an urban civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice.

Soon he became one of the central leaders in the Chicano movement and a strong proponent of Chicano nationalism.

In the late sixties and early seventies, Corky organized and supported high school walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality, and legal cases.

He also organized mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War.

What did the Crusades do?

School walkouts

Marches

Antidraft and Antiwar activities

Boycott of Coors beer

Political Campaigns

Movement Newspaper

Plan of the BarrioIn 1968 Gonzales led a Chicano contingent in the Poor People's March on Washington, D.C.

The plan called for better housing, education, barrio-owned businesses, and restitution of pueblo lands.

He also proposed forming a Congress of Aztlan to achieve these goals.

El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan

The first conference in March 1969 produced a document, the Spiritual Plan of Aztlan, which developed the concept of ethnic nationalism and self-determination in the struggle for Chicano liberation. Chicano liberation

Ethnic nationalism

Self-determination

Cultural and racial pride

Independent political action

Colorado Raza Unida Party

The second Chicano Youth Conference in 1970 represented a further refinement in Corky Gonzales's efforts toward Chicano self-determination, the formation of the Colorado Raza Unida Party.

The Annual Chicano Youth Liberation

One of the most important roles played by Gonzale was as an organizer of the Annual Chicano Youth Liberation Conference, an ambitious effort to create greater unity among Chicano youth.

These Conferences brought together large numbers of Chicano youth from throughout the United States and provided them with opportunities to express their views on self-determination.

The Annual Chicano Youth Liberation

Youth’s expression:American education

Artistic abilities

Organization

Fight for respect and equality

Get rid of the stereotyped Mexican

Death of CorkyDied in April 12, 2005

His key to liberation for the Chicano community is to develop a strong power base with heavy reliance on nationalism among Chicanos.

His contributions as a community organizer, youth leader, political activist, and civil rights advocate have helped to create a new spirit of Chicano unity.

Rodolfo "Corky” Gonzales’s life has been a collage of challenges that have been met and overcome.

He has never wavered in his commitment to enhance the lives of his people in this country, to change what is not fair, what is not right.

As long as there are injustices, double standards, racism, and apathy, Corky's dedication, loyalty, and love of the struggle against these diseases of society will serve as an inspiration for all people to act.

In his column in the Denver Post of January 6, 1988, Tom Gavin wrote: "He’s grizzled now, and

gray, but he stands tall, Corky Gonzales does,and taller still, Rodolfo "I am Joaquin" Gonzales.The

one was a pretty good boxer, the other is a leader of men."

Work Cited

"Rodolfo Corky Gonzales 1928 - 2005." Escuela Tlatelolco. N.p., n.d. Web. 12      Nov. 2009. <http://www.escuelatlatelolco.org/website/corky_bio.html>.

Clashiepoet. The Chicano Movement form 1960's to Today. YouTube. N.p., 29 Apr.      2009. Web. 12 Nov. 2009. <http://www.youtube.com/      watch?v=SzGvU_NAek4>.