Bombs. Riots. Walkouts. Tear gas.
Now we’re talking in- your-face protest. Those whose eyes got big over this month’s polite-as-a-tea-party immigration march to Civic Center should have gotten a load of the 1960s.
In those days it was “Chicano! … Power!” Fists and voices raised. It was battling, not marching, in the streets.
Those turbulent days are covered in “El Movimiento” (The Movement), the second part of Rocky Mountain PBS’s “La Raza de Colorado” documentary (9 tonight, KRMA-Channel 9).
It was no one-blanket-covers- all “Latino” movement. The civil-rights turmoil of the 1960s and ’70s was about those of Mexican descent, whether their families had been in Colorado 500 years or five weeks.
Producer Lisa Olken,who bagged an Emmy Award for “La Historia,” the first half of the program, mines black-and-white news footage of Corky Gonzales, Cesar Chavez, Juanita Herrera, Shirley Romero Otero and others involved in the movement to paint a tortured portrait of racism and triumph. To the surprise of some, women took a leading role in the activities.
Gonzales’ Crusade for Justice was the vortex for Colorado- wide protests, some of them violent, over civil rights and boycotts of grapes, lettuce and Coors. Sometimes, something as simple as toilets for pickers in the fields led to confrontation.
The 60-minute show is not without its moments of humor. Flo Hernandez-Ramos, now CEO of KUVO 89.3-FM, recalled that there were so many boycotts, “You looked at us cross-eyed we’d boycott you.”
Chicano militants, some violent and some peaceful, blended seamlessly into street demonstrations with black civil-rights activists and anti-Vietnam War protestors.
The movement, however, never achieved political success. Its candidates lagged at the polls, voter registration drives faltered and reform has been slow in coming. It’s a lesson the supporters of the new movement should put in their strategy books.
Around the dial
Freddie Colon and Gerry Dixon new voices on KTNI 101.5-FM (“Martini”). Dixon’s been on various Denver stations, including KALC 105.9-FM. Colon is moving from Phoenix. … Has it been that long? Paul Harvey was honored Friday in Chicago, celebrating 30 years of his radio show “The Rest of the Story.” It’s on 1,100 stations. … Odd Couple: Rocker Big Head Todd Mohr a big fan of radio talk-show host Jay Marvin (6-10 a.m. weekdays, KKZN 760-AM). He called Marvin on-air recently to tell him, “I love your show” and talk world politics. … Fans of Dressy Bessy perked up their ears when the local band’s music was used on Sunday night’s finale of “Grey’s Anatomy.” … Quotable: “We wanted to believe we had power.” Lalo Delgado.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
