| Honoring a leader’s legacy: Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales |
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Great leaders whose lives touch many never exit without leaving a legacy. Legacies are visions for the future with pathways full of knowledge to follow. The passionate speeches and words used by effective leaders bestow upon the masses philosophies and actions to revere. As Metro College and the Chicana/o Studies Department in collaboration with the community prepares for the 5th Annual Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Symposium to be held on Friday, April 15th, I thought I would reflect on what I believe are some of the lessons Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales left us.
Never forsake the spirit of struggle. Gonzales left us a legacy of struggle towards social justice. Pitted against the omnipresent forms of oppression hidden in bureaucratic malaise, unfettered legalese and redundant broken promises, Corky unwavering sense of justice was never left at the doorstep. He had trudged down the path of political mediocrity, hobnobbed with the social elite, worked in city government and had come to the conclusion that the two-party political system “was like a monster with two heads eating out of the same trough.” Perhaps the message that Gonzales left us is to be careful of governments; history is fraught with powerful governments that have been transformed into oppressive regimes. Hold them accountable.
Never deny your roots or culture. Denial of self is painstaking trauma that destroys individuals, communities and ultimately nations. Corky had experienced insidious institutionalized racism in all of its malice. He understood the devastating effects it had on both individual and collective psychologies. Keenly aware of the micro transgressions used by educational institutions as they annihilated cultures resulted in the creation of Escuela Tlatelolco, a unique alternative educational institution. Self-love and cultural self-esteem are the school’s building blocks leading to self-respect and respect for others. At the base of La Escuela is oppositional consciousness aimed at community empowerment.
Know your history. Gonzales was aware that La Raza had been deceived by the master narrative. The Crusade’s historic struggle during the West High blowouts was about offering history alternative perspectives so that future generations would not have to bow down to false preachers. Bringing pride to the many cultural, social, economic and political contributions through enormous personal sacrifice challenging the master narrative, making it reflective of the realities and struggles of nuestra gente that had been watered down by mainstream historians, painting falsehoods of La Raza’s predicted historical obsolescence.
The community has a responsibility to be involved in creating its own destiny. Activism was at the core of Corky’s philosophy. Nothing changes without struggle. Each generation of Raza has an obligation to make things better for the next generation.
Have the courage to speak your truth to power. Untruths hurled against humanity become human casualties. For too long the community’s voices had been censored, drowned under the murky waters of linguistic imperialism. Corky’s speeches were critical and thought provoking treatises challenging the masses to take action. He knew that speaking your truth would set you free.
Never compromise justice. Justice is not a commodity to be sold in a marketplace. Justice is an ideal that requires commitment and lifelong struggle. Justice is never doled out by the powerful; it is won through struggle by the powerless. When justice came face-to-face with oppression, justice would prevail.
Don’t sell out your convictions. Be true to yourself, even at the expense of being ostracized by the power brokers. At the end of the day, a healthy dose of self-criticism can keep you honest as you sort through political and contradictory mishmash.
Build unity with other oppressed groups. Social revolutions do not occur in a vacuum. It takes the masses of the people moving in unity to create social change. Crossing any kind of border or barrier is critical as consciousness is raised and human beings decide to take action. The masses of the people should never acquiesce to the tyranny of the minority.
Don’t be afraid to take risks. True leaders are risk takers unafraid to engage in controversy, willing to rock the boat. Walking the tight rope may be dangerous but there are payoffs at the end. Good leaders know when and how to take risks for the greater good.
Don’t speak with a forked tongue. Say what needs to be said, with conviction, honesty and forthrightness. Don’t twist words around in uncanny ways, confusing la gente in the process.
Build unity with our brothers and sisters from the North. Brown people live on both sides of the borders. La Raza’s collective roots are Indigenous. Mexicanas/as and Chicanas/os are the same people that have been divided, but they cannot be conquered when we work in unity in creating our own destiny.
Be spiritually strong. Know yourself well enough and develop an inner path into the essence of your being. Spirituality should always be a force guiding your actions.
Dr. Ramón Del Castillo is an Independent Journalist.
© 2011 The Weekly Issue/El Semanario, Inc.
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