Chicano Echoes, Art-Essays-Poetry by donreggie

VIVA AZTLÁN A preview of what to read in Upcoming book: Chicano Echoes (June 2020) A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

AZTLAN A MYTHICAL PLACE THAT ONCE RULED MESOAMERICA FOR DECADES WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS THEY DISCOVERED AZTLAN

PHOTO 2019 MURAL AT 1831 S. RACINE AVE. PILSEN-MURAL BY PILSEN ARTIST

AZTLAN A PLACE THAT ONCE A PEOPLE RULED MESOAMERICA FOR DECADES WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANIARDS THE WORLD DISCOVERED AZTLAN

This E-book illustrates a brief description of the upcoming book Chicano Echoes, Art, Essays, and Poetry. The expected publication date is June 2020. This E-book’s cover shows the famous façade of Casa Aztlán, repainted in 2019 after it was white washed by an investment group. The building is no longer a community center, condominiums now occupy its four story structure. The Chicano Echoes book will be published in June 2020 with the generous support of Martin Cabrera Jr. CEO & Founder at Cabrera Markets, LLC. Mr. Cabrera Jr.’s brief biograph is illustrated along with his father, the late Martin Cabrera Sr. This E-book displays artwork and photography that illustrate the richness of the Chicano experience in Chicago, IL. Joe Lopez studio, Joel Mendez poetry, Carlos Heredia workshops and William “Bill” Luna’s Mexican American exhibit.

ART, ESSAYS, POETRY

VIVA AZTLÁN

VIVA AZTLÁN ART, ESSAYS, POETRY

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo coping, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher in the United States of American.

Printed in the United States of America

DEDICATION • My deepest appreciation goes out to the Cabrera family, especially to Martin Cabrera Jr. a true Chicano who is leading the way for people not to forget their history and heritage. Without his sponsorship Chicano Echoes would not be possible. Gracias amigo! •

Mr. Cabrera Jr. CEO and Founder of Cabrera Capital Markets (CCM), CCM provides global investment banking and full service global institutional brokerage services to substantial and diversified client base that includes financial institutions, unions, governments, corporations, hedge funds, foundations and endowments.

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Martin has 22 years of investment experience. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University and studied at the London School of Economics.

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Mr. Cabrera serves on numerous Commissions, Boards, and Endowment Committees.

DEDICATION In the late 60’s I met and became friends with a generous man who gave up his family time to lead his people of Pilsen. He led others in organizing for a better life. When Martin decided to step down from the directorship of Casa Aztlán he selected Refugio (Reggie) Gonzales to fill his position. It was a challenging task and forever changed my life. Thank you my friend, may you rest in peace (M.C. 1947-1987) Mr. Cabrera’s father, the late Martin Cabrera Sr. was a • Vietnam Veteran, • Social Worker, • Community Activist, • Chicano leader • Former Executive Director of Casa Aztlan (Casa Aztlán closed in 2013). • Photo contributed by Tanya Cabrera.

Casa Aztlรกn

is a place that brought the young and old together to challenge, defend, and continue the Chicano movement.

Former Casa Aztlรกn volunteers and activists Photographer unknown

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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I would like to thank my good friend Martin Cabrera Jr. for his generous sponsorship. I appreciate Tanya Cabrera’s photograph of her father Martin Cabrera Sr.

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My sincere thanks to Dr. Robert J. Renteria for kind words and wisdom.

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Thank you Juanita Santillan, ND, my dearest wife for your time and edits. Many thanks to Carlos Heredia for his companionship and sharing his vast historical insights at our weekly breakfast.

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Thank you Hector Hernandez for your life work at Rudy Lozano Library. Your love for the game of Chess. Until we sit opposite of each other at your next tournament-stay safe.

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My good friend and historian William Bill Luna, thank you for your dedication in bringing the Mexican American history to the people. Joel Mendez, my amigo, best man, compadre, a math wiz, painter, and poet.

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Jesus Macarena-Avila, a friend and a great instructor of Art, Latino History and artist. Your actions continue to impress and change our world.

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Laura Paz, my dear Chicana activist your voice is a sound of inspiration. Maria Isaura Gonzalez, my dear friend, your teaching of art was an act of love.

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Phil Ayala, you were the catalyst that brought out the Chicanismo of this vato-loco.

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Joe Lopez, my dearest brother, your art is inspiring. Keep on painting. Many others featured herein will never be forgotten.

About the Author Refugio (Reggie) Gonzales Author, MBA Founder, Illinois Latino Voice A Chicago resident for over six decades, BS Sociology, IL State University, MBA, National Louis University. Founder of Illinois Latino Voice, E-newsletter, Photographer, videographer, author and former Director of Latino Affairs with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Former Human Rights Investigator with the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Director with Aloe Plus Corp. and Board member of LOS (Latinos of Southwest), and Little Village Community Council. Hobbies: Chess, photography, video production, writing, publishing, social media, and dancing. Goals: Create the Cesar E. Chavez gallery in Little Village. Current Project: Writing Chicano Echoes, publish date June 2020.

FOREWORD Hello Mi Gente, It’s not too late to know your history and to be proud of your heritage. Do you know that Aztlán was an Empire? Do you know that Mexican Americans have roots in Aztlan? Well, I am here to bring you the good news that you are all special and unique. Your parents know this and God brought us closer to Salvation. I've been blessed to survive a horrible injury, to be fatherless, homeless and live in a world of chaos. From the Barrio to the Boardroom, my first book tells our story. Yes, it's our story because I know you have gone through similar roads and overcame them, or even struggling with them today. Don't let where you came from dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you become. And, don't ever let anybody ever tell you that you can’t do something because as long as you have a Corazon, a heart, you always have a chance! As you read Chicano Echoes book with pride, you will want to share it with your family and friends. Refugio (Reggie) Gonzales was the first-person in Chicago government to open the city doors for me and From the Barrio Foundation. I’m honored to write this foreword and to celebrate our culture and history. Today, I am a successful entrepreneur, author, mentor, speaker and with my next project "The Barrio Movie”. I will share my story with millions of people around the world. I leave you with one of my favorite passages in my book and know that you will share Chicano Echoes with your friends. We all come from somewhere and we're all going someplace".

Adelante,

Dr. Robert J. Renteria Chairman From the Barrio Foundation https://www.fromthebarrio.com 10

Table of Contents • Dedication • Casa Aztlán Volunteers • Acknowledgements • About the Author • Foreword • Table of Contents • Joe Lopez Studio • Chicano Power • Chicano Art • Rudy Lozano Library • Chicano Essays • Chicano Poetry • Chicano Echoes • Chicano Movement • Chicago Chicanos • José Guadalupe Posada • Joel Mendez • Little Village Parade • Viva Aztlan

5-6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17-18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

• Chicano Echoes Book

JOE LOPEZ STUDIO

VIVA AZTLÁN

CHICANO POWER! Chicano Echoes is a book that fuses Art, Poetry and Essays on Chicanos.

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History of Aztlán Spanish Invasion Mexican Americans I’m Chicano Chicago Chicanos Art Poetry Essays

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Chicano Art: Salvador Vega, a Pilsen resident that specializes in mural painting, and art. Shares his thoughts on Chicanos.

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Chicano Poetry: Joel Mendez, a former math teacher discovered his poetry and art skills when retired from teaching.

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Chicano Essays: Jesus (Chuy) Negrete, doctoral candidate in the field of ”Corridos” and Chicano music.

Nuevo Leon Restaurant, Little Village Chicago, photo by donreggie 2019 13

CHICANO ART MARIA ISAURA GONZALEZ

CAMI members with their families and friends celebrate the 1st year anniversary of the book, "Chicanas of 18th Street: Narratives of a Movement from Latino Chicago" about the lives of six women and the Pilsen neighborhood. One of them, Maria Isaura Gonzalez (1944-2010) aside from being known an activist and educator had evolved into a community-based artist. From Gonzalez's early childhood in Texas then migrating to Chicago where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Art Education from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Isaura created installation work, paintings and prints before her untimely death. 1 Majority of Isaura's artistic life as known by CAMI members and her family was a collection of This book came out in 2012, celebrating "el black/ white and color photography, her subject: movimiento" through six personal stories. Chicago's Chicano/ Mexicano community. 2 From depictions of everyday culture in Pilsen neighborhood to significant moments in urban youth life, she captured the spirit of the community.

Isaura Gonzalez, La Quinceañera, 1988, color photograph.

Isaura saw an importance in documenting Chicago's largest immigrant youth population. Her photography illustrates its culture, struggles, and tribulations depicting different generations from 1970's to 2000's. One of her photographs was recently surveyed in the exhibit, "Layer Cake: Tales from a Quinceañera" by Chicago curator Camille Morgan with its theme on the "Quinceañera" tradition. 3

Morgan spent time with the late artist, in preparation of the exhibit, interviewed her and included a second work which was a linocut print inspired by her 1988 photograph titled, "La "Quinceañera" both works showed youth celebrating an "Quincenera" event. Morgan describes her artistic life in the Pilsen community as "… a very exciting period in her life where she made amazing friends and professional contacts. A photographer,

CARLOS HEREDIA SEMINARS AT CHICAGO LIBRARY-RUDY LOZANO HECTOR HERNANDEZ, FORMER LIBRARIAN

CHICANO ESSAY

• Casa Aztlán in the barrio of Pilsen Chicago was the place to bring your family to enjoy the arts, music and Chicano culture. • Local politics and national political debates would be take place in the great salon of Casa Aztlán. • The murals that surrounded the great salon told the struggle and triumph of the Chicano movement. In the upper floors dedicated instructors taught English as a Second language, GED classes and the Benito Juarez Clinic served the barrio residents. • The mural movement, the Chicana movement, the demand for education and political empowerment came out of Casa Aztlán staff and volunteers. • The pioneers like Art Vázquez, John “Mama” Velásquez, Phil Ayala, Martin Cabrera Sr., Rudy “Pigeon” Flores, Frank Gallegos Sr., Roland Espinosa, David “Bookie” Gonzalez, Paul Acosta, Ana Álvarez, Myrna Álvarez, Filiberto “Cookie” Ramirez, Hector Gamboa, Maria Suacedo, Maria “Isaura” Gonzalez, Magda Castańeda Ramirez, Rogelio “Smiley” Rojas, Joel Mendez, and the list goes on and on. • These individuals and many more made Casa Aztlán and the building was a unique the meeting place. The history of Casa Aztlán will forever be told by the Chicanos that still roam 18th Street, 26th Street, South Chicago, Humboldt Park, Cicero, Aurora, Elgin, etc. ’nuestra gente” will live on despite the fall of Casa Aztlán in 2013.

CHICANO POETRY

Joel Mendez March 31 2020 I've got plenty of time in these "Tiempos del Corona Virus" so I wrote a poem for all of you remaining confined to your abodes...

COCOONED

• Diana the moon is keeping her stance abiding her distance and is now on her way to carry her hunt to the other side of the day. • Helios the Titan rides alone in his chariot of gold and rises with caution above the horizon swinging his shining sharp swords in diligent search of the scourge afflicting the health of the living down here on this earth. • From my bedroom window I can see the desolate street stone cold…deserted… forgotten… in time by the reticent Pantheon looking down from the heavens above. • Alas! Aeolus in pity has ordered his four winds to sweep clean the streets of all dead leaves and stained patches of snow still scattered in the dusty sidewalks. • And Persephone oblivious to the viral threat impinged upon us has brought us the Spring in her usual March

Cocoon Continued glamour flaunting her basket of crocus and lily in lushes of green and cheerful birdsong. • My thoughts now force a conscious desire to see once again that pair of mother and father both watching their child riding a bike or hauling a book bag not knowing the school has been locked as if held hostage in the national quest to help in the fight to subdue the insidious invisible threat gestating in place in the lungs of clueless children confined to their beds. • Confined on my own I have no choice but to remain in retreat and be content with the distant lone bark of the neighbor’s old hound and the echoing roar of a delivery truck chugging along pretending to have a routine working day. • So here I must be cocooned in my room staring in silence at the empty world from my window pleading the Gods to spare the loss of innocent lives… • And in my plead I’ve come to realize we all can be gone from this beautiful world unnoticed… erased…and sooner than later be forgotten unless we prevail in keeping our distance…sheltered…in place. © 2020 jjméndez

VIVA AZTLÁN

CHICANOS •

Looking back at my years and growing up in the barrio of Pilsen, I realized that some people thrived and succeeded in life. While others barely made it economically and left seeking other opportunities.

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Pilsen a section of Chicago’s lower west side neighborhood was the port of entry for many migrants. It became a Mexican community in the late 50’s. In 1990 to 2020 it gentrified. Many Mexican businesses are closing and the Mexican population is decreasing.

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Where have all the Chicano’s gone you may wonder. Well, they are the minority in this changing world. Their history will not be forgotten.

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A good friend, William (Bill) Luna, has devoted his life of bringing the Mexican American history to the barrio, the schools, the government, and to the general public.

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Luna’s historical archives of the military, civil rights, educational struggles that Mexican Americans achieved is documented in cardboard posters that he displays at events and in the classrooms.

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William (Bill) Luna speaking to fellow veterans during Memorial Day celebration at the Manuel Perez Jr. Plaza in Little Village (Chicago). Mexican Americas have served the arm services for many decades and through many wars.

• Carlos Heredia, former university instructor on Latin American History, co-founder of Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) and founder of the late Un Barrio Mejor. Currently, a board member of Latinos of the Southwest (LOS) and co-founder of Historical Archives of Mexican Americans (A developing entity). • Carlos Heredia was born in Mexico City, Mexico and his family migrated to the United States and they settled in Chicago. His story is similar to many other migrants, not knowing English, young, combating the inequities of a new society. • Carlos learned English, got an education, married, had children and began a journey of not forgetting his historical past. Carlos, spends his free time teaching, organizing, reading, and sharing his experience and knowledge of the Chicano Movement.

CHICAGO

VIVA AZTLÁN

CHICANOS CHICAGO CHICANOS WHO MARCHED, PROTESTED, AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHICANO MOVEMENT

Carlos Heredia visited the DuPage Art Museum (2019), where they held an exhibit of the famous printmaker of Mexico.

Photograph by Donreggie 2019

Original sketch by Joel Mendez

Joel Mendez Raices 23

LITTLE VILLAGE CHICAGO MEXICAN INDEPEDENCE DAY PARADE 2019 PEOPLE SHOW CASE THEIR AZTLÁN HERITAGE

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