WE SACRIFICED FOR NEW GENERATIONS
Chicano/a is a philosophical word that denotes a person who is passionate about freedom, and the God-given rights one possesses as a person. It is a person who is willing to fight and sacrifice to ensure the rights and existence of a group of people who have been discriminated against and oppressed. Chicano/a is a person who unselfishly professes and protects Mexican history, culture, language and the rights of equality for Latina women. In addition, a Chicano/a is a person who is willing to compromise on an issue, without compromising his or her principles. Chicano/a is a term for pride, respect, affirmation and struggle as it relates to land, labor, education, political empowerment, and support for the rights and selfdetermination of all Indigenous people of the world.
In order to understand why I choose to be called Chicano, one needs to learn the history of Mexicans in this country since the United States took the land from Mexico. The Treaty of Guadalupe, the Mexican American War, the chase of Pancho Villa by the 10th Cavalry, the military attacks regarding the Los Angeles riots, the history of the sleepy lagoon, the L.A. school walkouts, the Chicano Moratorium, the killing of L.A. reporter Ruben Salazar, the birth of the Brown Berets, the farm workers movement, the history of the birth of the Chicano Federation. I called myself Chicano because no one ever called me American. I was always a greaser, a Mexican, spic, a wetback, even though my parents and I were born here in the United States.
In 1967, I attended a meeting where a person opened my eyes and made me look around and realize that we were victims of bad housing, bad education, worse jobs and an unjust justice system. In 1969, there were only two Latino cops, one in San Diego and one in National City. One in San Diego was named Smith and the one in National City was named Baker. There were no Latino teachers anywhere, no owners or managers of large businesses. It was for this reason that I decided to fight to make changes and fight for the future of our people. My contributions to the Chicano movement are extensive. You can find my personal history by Googling “Luis Louie Natividad.” I’m very proud to continue to call myself Chicano, and have been a part of many changes, knowing that our efforts and sacrifices have helped a generation that perhaps will never give credit to those who sacrificed themselves to open many doors for them today.
To those of you who have continued the struggle, however small your contribution has been, I congratulate and appreciate you. For what its worth, I encourage you to join hands with others like you who continue to work to make our community a better and safe place to live. We did this many years ago when we struggled to keep and beautify Chicano Park.
The history of the park is just one important piece of Chicano history in San Diego that many of today’s youth don’t know about. The San Diego Police Department opened a satellite office in the middle of the barrio. But the community was not too happy about that. To add salt to the wound, the California Highway Patrol decided to open its headquarters right under the Coronado Bridge on Logan Avenue. (It’s now known as the Chicano Federation Building complete with a new Chicano Museum.) Chicanos from all over the county came together to protest against the CHP, making a statement that the community was surrounded by police and law enforcement agencies.
We directed our concern to the City Council and its members, in turn, negotiated a land exchange since the building is under state jurisdiction. The state decided to beautify the Coronado side of the bridge but ignored the side on Logan Heights. It was left with rocks and trash. The community responded. Chicano and Chicana leaders gathered in the park. There was a massive cleanup, f lowers were planted all around the park and the first mural was painted.
That action by the community was only the beginning. The community got a park, and the actions and activities helped forge new relationships between members of different communities that at one time in the past would not even talk to each other. Those of us who fought for Chicano Park and other injustices against the Chicano community will never forget. Que Viva La Raza! Que Viva Chicano Park!
Natividad