Political Activist, Professional Boxer. Born to a Mexican immigrant father in the barrios of Denver, Colorado, he graduated from high school at age 16; his father often spoke about the Mexican Revolution, Mexico's history, and the pride of the Mexican people which left little doubt about his own identity and his destiny. Finding the cost of tuition at a university too expensive, he pursued a career in boxing. An outstanding amateur national champion he became a great featherweight (125 lb) fighter winning the National Amateur Athletic Union bantamweight title in 1946; turned pro in 1949, compiling a 65-9-1 record as a featherweight before retiring from boxing in 1955. In the late 1950s he became the first Mexican-American district captain for the Democratic Party in Denver, but later became disenchanted with the party, which he said wanted Chicano votes but not Chicano candidates. In the mid-1960's, he founded an urban civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice and soon became one of the central leaders in the Chicano movement and a strong proponent of Chicano nationalism. His movement established "Chicano" as a term of ethnic pride among Mexican-Americans. In the late sixties and early seventies, he organized and supported high school walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality, and legal cases. Also organized mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Led a Chicano contingent in the 1968 Poor People's March on Washington, D.C. where he issued his "Plan of the Barrio" calling for better housing, education, barrio-owned businesses, and the restitution of pueblo lands. Also proposed a Congress of Aztlan to achieve these goals. Well remembered for his role as an organizer of the Annual Chicano Youth Liberation Conference, to create greater unity among Chicano youth. The Conferences brought together Chicano youth from throughout the United States giving them opportunities to express their views on self-determination. His book, "Yo soy Joaquin" (I am Joaquin) was published in 1967. Cause of death: congestive heart failure, in Denver, Colorado.
Political Activist, Professional Boxer. Born to a Mexican immigrant father in the barrios of Denver, Colorado, he graduated from high school at age 16; his father often spoke about the Mexican Revolution, Mexico's history, and the pride of the Mexican people which left little doubt about his own identity and his destiny. Finding the cost of tuition at a university too expensive, he pursued a career in boxing. An outstanding amateur national champion he became a great featherweight (125 lb) fighter winning the National Amateur Athletic Union bantamweight title in 1946; turned pro in 1949, compiling a 65-9-1 record as a featherweight before retiring from boxing in 1955. In the late 1950s he became the first Mexican-American district captain for the Democratic Party in Denver, but later became disenchanted with the party, which he said wanted Chicano votes but not Chicano candidates. In the mid-1960's, he founded an urban civil rights and cultural movement called the Crusade for Justice and soon became one of the central leaders in the Chicano movement and a strong proponent of Chicano nationalism. His movement established "Chicano" as a term of ethnic pride among Mexican-Americans. In the late sixties and early seventies, he organized and supported high school walkouts, demonstrations against police brutality, and legal cases. Also organized mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Led a Chicano contingent in the 1968 Poor People's March on Washington, D.C. where he issued his "Plan of the Barrio" calling for better housing, education, barrio-owned businesses, and the restitution of pueblo lands. Also proposed a Congress of Aztlan to achieve these goals. Well remembered for his role as an organizer of the Annual Chicano Youth Liberation Conference, to create greater unity among Chicano youth. The Conferences brought together Chicano youth from throughout the United States giving them opportunities to express their views on self-determination. His book, "Yo soy Joaquin" (I am Joaquin) was published in 1967. Cause of death: congestive heart failure, in Denver, Colorado.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
Advertisement
See more Gonzales memorials in:
Advertisement
