The Development of the Young Lords Organization in Chicago Michael Robert Gonzales University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

The Development of the Young Lords Organization in Chicago Michael Robert Gonzales University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations May 2015 Ruffians and Revolutionaries: the Development of the Young Lords Organization in Chicago Michael Robert Gonzales University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Chicana/o Studies Commons, Other History Commons, and the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Gonzales, Michael Robert, "Ruffians and Revolutionaries: the Development of the Young Lords Organization in Chicago" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 807. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/807 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RUFFIANS AND REVOLUTIONARIES: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG LORDS ORGANIZATION IN CHICAGO by Michael R. Gonzales A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in History at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee May 2015 ABSTRACT RUFFIANS AND REVOLUTIONARIES: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG LORDS MOVEMENT IN CHICAGO by Michael R. Gonzales The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2015 Under the Supervision of Amanda I. Seligman, Ph.D. The Young Lords began as a street “gang” in the early 1960s in the western Puerto Rican section of Chicago’s Lincoln Park community area. In late 1968, some of the group’s leaders began to embrace radical politics and the Young Lords changed from a social group into a political organization. By examining the various factors that led to the politicization of the group’s leaders and informed their organizing, this thesis works to provide a better understanding of the Young Lords movement. More specifically, this study looks at how local social pressures, traditions of radical organizing, and efforts to forge collective identities all worked to influence the genesis, development, and political ideas of the Young Lords movement. In doing so, it identifies and discusses three major influences upon the group’s political analysis and major activities. First, this thesis demonstrates that Young Lords members were shaped by a history of colonization and resistance to colonial subjugation, both in Puerto Rico and in Chicago. Also, this study shows that the Black Power movement inspired and provided direction for Young Lords leaders. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that the movement against urban renewal projects in Lincoln Park motivated Young Lords members into action, helped define their activism, and became one of the driving causes of their movement. ii © Michael R. Gonzales, 2015 All Rights Reserved iii Dedicated to Jenny, without whom none of this would have been possible iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………....vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS…………………………………………………………..viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………………….x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE YOUNG LORDS MOVEMENT……....1 CHAPTER TWO: HARVEST OF EMPIRE…………………………………….............33 CHAPTER THREE: “THE REVOLUTION HAS COME”……………………………..77 CHAPTER FOUR: A RIGHT TO THE CITY…………………………………………111 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………137 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………139 APPENDIX: FIGURES………………………………………………………………...153 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Map of Community Areas Mentioned in Text (map created by Jennifer L. Picard, basemap provided by ESRI Online) ................................................................... 153 Figure 2: Points of Interest in Lincoln Park (Map created by Jennifer L. Picard, basemap provided by ESRI Online) .............................................................................................. 154 Figure 3: Collage of photos from funeral and YLO marches held in honor of Manuel Ramos, printed in the second issue of the YLO newspaper. Y.L.O., May 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ............................................................................................................................ 155 Figure 4: Article on the murder of Bruce Johnson and Eugenia Johnson, published in the fall 1969 issue of the YLO newspaper. “You Can’t Kill a Revolution,” Y.L.O., Fall, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................................. 156 Figure 5: Cover of second issue of El Young Lord: Latin Liberation News Service, published in Milwaukee. Cover, El Young Lord: Latin Liberation News Service, April 15, 1971. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................... 157 Figure 6: Points of Interest on Chicago’s West Side and Lincoln Park (Map created by Jennifer L. Picard; basemap provided by ESRI Online) ................................................. 158 Figure 7: Article about October 1969 YLO march in honor of Pedro Albizu Campos. “Jibaro Seguro! A Los Yanquis Dale Duro!” Y.L.O., January 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ............................................................................................................................ 159 Figure 8: Cover of January 1970 issue of YLO newspaper. Cover, Y.L.O., January, 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................................. 160 Figure 9: “Jíbaro mi negro lindo,” from February/March 1970 issue of YLO newspaper. “Jíbaro mi negro lindo,” Y.L.O., February/March, 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ......... 161 Figure 10: Articles about Chicano struggles featured in the January 1970 YLO newspaper. "Free Los Siete," Y.L.O., January, 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ..................... 162 Figure 11: Page three of the first issue of the YLO newspaper, featuring images from the takeover of the 18th district police station. “Latin Power to Latin People,” Y.L.O., March vi 19, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................... 163 Figure 12: Article about the occupation of Alcatraz, printed in the January 1970 issue of the YLO newspaper. “Give Alcatraz Back to the Indians,” Y.L.O., January, 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ............................................................................................................................ 164 Figure 13: Front page of the first issue of the Y.L.O. newspaper, featuring an image and article about the takeover of the 18th district police station. “YLO Takes Over Police Station,” Y.L.O., March 19, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ............................................... 165 Figure 14: “BPP Ten Point Platform and Program,” printed in the first issue of the Y.L.O. newspaper. “BPP Ten Point Platform and Program,” Y.L.O., March 19, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................................. 166 Figure 15: “It’s All the Same” cartoon by BPP Minister of Culture Emory Douglas, printed in the first issue of the Y.L.O. newspaper. “It’s All the Same,” Y.L.O., March 19, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................... 167 Figure 16: “People’s Revolutionary Constitutional Convention,” Pitirre, Summer, 1970. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois)............................................................................................................. 168 Figure 17: Article about the United Puerto Rican Coalition featured in the fall 1969 issue of the YLO newspaper. "El Barrio Esta Despierta," Y.L.O., Fall, 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ............................................................................................................................ 169 Figure 18: Points of Interest, Near North Side and Near West Side (Map created by Jennifer L. Picard, basemap provided by ESRI Online) ................................................. 170 Figure 19: Article in May 1969 issue of YLO newspaper about the McCormick Occupation. “McCormick Take-over,” Y.L.O., May 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul University Library, Chicago, Illinois) ......... 171 Figure 20: Front page of May 1969 YLO newspaper, commemorating the takeover of the McCormick Theological Seminary. Cover, Y.L.O., May 1969. (Young Lords Collection, Special Collections and Archives, DePaul

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