I am JoaquinI am JoaquinYo Soy JoaquinYo Soy Joaquin

Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales

Friday, April 15th, 2005Friday, April 15th, 2005 Chicano Leader Rodolfo Chicano Leader Rodolfo

"Corky" Gonzales 1929-"Corky" Gonzales 1929-2005: 2005:

"He Was the Fist. He Stood "He Was the Fist. He Stood For Defiance, Resistance"For Defiance, Resistance"

ObituaryObituary Chicano political and civil rights Chicano political and civil rights

activist Rodolfo "Corky" activist Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales died Tuesday at his Gonzales died Tuesday at his home in Denver, Colorado. He home in Denver, Colorado. He was 76 years old. was 76 years old.

Gonzales was an iconic Gonzales was an iconic leader in the movement leader in the movement for justice and equality for for justice and equality for Mexican-Americans in the Mexican-Americans in the Southwest and he is Southwest and he is credited with raising the credited with raising the nation's awareness of the nation's awareness of the plight of urban Chicanos. plight of urban Chicanos.

ActivismActivism In the mid-1960’s he founded an urban In the mid-1960’s he founded an urban

civil rights and cultural movement called civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice which advocated the Crusade for Justice which advocated Chicano nationalism. Chicano nationalism.

During the late sixties and During the late sixties and early seventies, he organized early seventies, he organized walkouts, demonstrations walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality and against police brutality and marches against the Vietnam marches against the Vietnam War. War.

In 1968, Gonzales led a Chicano In 1968, Gonzales led a Chicano contingent to the Poor People's March on contingent to the Poor People's March on Washington D.C and issued a "plan of the Washington D.C and issued a "plan of the Barrio" which demanded better housing, Barrio" which demanded better housing, education and restitution of pueblo lands. education and restitution of pueblo lands.

Gonzales was also an organizer Gonzales was also an organizer of the Annual Chicano Youth of the Annual Chicano Youth Liberation Conference which Liberation Conference which sought to create unity among sought to create unity among Chicano youth.Chicano youth.

Gonzales also advocated for Gonzales also advocated for increased political representation for increased political representation for Chicanos. Chicanos.

In 1972 he was the keynote speaker In 1972 he was the keynote speaker at the newly formed La Raza Unida at the newly formed La Raza Unida Party national convention in El Paso Party national convention in El Paso Texas. Texas.

The party fielded political candidates The party fielded political candidates to run for office in the state. to run for office in the state.

I am JoaquinI am Joaquin But perhaps Corky Gonzales is But perhaps Corky Gonzales is

best known for his poem "I am best known for his poem "I am Joaquin/Yo Soy Joaquin." Joaquin/Yo Soy Joaquin."

He wrote the epic poem in He wrote the epic poem in 1965 and it is one of the most 1965 and it is one of the most important literary works to important literary works to emerge from the Chicano emerge from the Chicano movement.movement.

In the poem Gonzales tells of In the poem Gonzales tells of the historic struggles faced the historic struggles faced by Mexican Americans in the by Mexican Americans in the United States.United States.