In Support of ‘Corky’ Gonzales
“I am Joaquín.
I must fight
and win this struggle
for my sons, and they
must know from me
who I am.”– “I Am Joaquín,” written by Rodolfo ‘Corky’ Gonzales
Denver city officials and community leaders are debating the naming of a new library after hometown hero and Chicano civil rights leader Rodolfo ‘Corky’ Gonzales.
Corky Gonzales, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 76, is best known for his activism and community organizing as the founding member of Denver’s Crusade for Justice. Many consider his epic poem, “I Am Joaquín,” a seminal text in Chicano literature which is still inspiring many today.
Former Crusade members, students and community leaders cite Escuela Tlatelolco, a culturally-based school founded by Gonzales in 1970, as his greatest legacy and contribution to the children and community of West Denver.
Gonzales, a former boxing champion, is being opposed by some who point to violent clashes his organization, the Crusade for Justice, had with the Denver Police Department in the 60s and 70s during a tumultuous time in the city’s history.
The City of Denver and the Denver Library Commission should honor the public’s wishes and name the city’s new library after Rodolfo ‘Corky’ Gonzales, a leader, educator, and a great man.
Photo via the Denver Post