El Renacimiento [Broken run of 50 issues].

Lansing, Michigan: El Renacimiento, 1973-1984. 15½” x 11¼”. Newsprint. Pp. 8-24. Publication sequence: Año 4, Números 60 (Jun 12 1973), 68 (Oct 30 1973), 69 (Nov 19 1973); Año 5, Números 75-79 (Apr 8 – Jul 30 1974); Año 7, Números 102-106 (Apr 26 – Aug 16 1976), 108 (Oct 18 1976), 109 [misnumbered as 108 and corrected in ink], 113 (Feb 14 1977), 114 (Feb 28 1977); Año 8, Números 118-125 (Apr 25 – Aug 8 1977), 127 (Sep 12 1977), 128 (Sep 26 1977), 130 (Oct 24 1977), 131 (Nov 14 1977); Año 9, Números 139 (Mar 13 1978), 140 (Mar 27 1978), 142 (Apr 24 1978), 143 (May 8 1978), 148 (Aug 14 1978), 149 [misnumbered as 148] (Sep 15 1978), 150 (Oct 15 1978), 153 (Jan 15 1979), 154 (Feb 15 1979); Año 10, Números 155-157 (Mar 15 – May 15 1979), 159-161 (Aug – Nov 1979); Año 12, Número 178 (Jan/Feb 1982); Año 13, Números 184 (Jul/Aug 1982), 186 (Sep 20/Oct 20 1982), 187 (Oct 25/Nov 21 1982), 190 (Feb 21/Mar 20 1983); Año 15, Número 203 (Mar 26/Apr 29 1984). Generally very good or better: some with postal or ex-library markings; folded horizontally, presumably as issued; a few with small chips or tears at fold and one with a 2” corner chip; several with light edge wear; lightly toned and a few scattered small stains.

This is a large group of issues of an important Spanish- and English-language newspaper produced in Lansing, Michigan, El Renacimiento (ER). Brimming with photographic images, Latin American-inspired art, local and national news, the paper covered issues of importance, and provided training in aspects of the newspaper business, to the Michigan Hispanic community for 20 years.

ER got its start in 1970, financed through a grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development; an interview with the final editor in 1990 revealed that over the years it was supported by state and county contracts, corporations and foundations, eventually “weaning itself from public funding and becoming self-supporting” in ways that included “holding weekly bingo games to raise money.” The paper and its print shop trained Latin American residents in computer skills, graphic design, typesetting and journalism; they also printed materials for local businesses, community and educational groups. ER's title translates to “The Renaissance” and a quote on each issue's masthead proclaimed: “Man finds, in the greatness of his past, courage and confidence for the future.”

The issues on offer here span from 1973 to 1984 and document an array of local events and community efforts as well as myriad issues affecting Latin Americans nationwide. Articles and editorials appeared in both English and Spanish, addressing police brutality, racial discrimination and injustice, support for migrant farmworkers and “La Experiencia del Chicano” in the history of the United States. Issues provided guidance on “la acción afirmativa” and its “promises on paper” for Hispanic Americans, as well as “el proceso del impeachment,” bilingual legislation in national government, and political platforms of state and local candidates. Women were an integral part of the ER staff from the get-go, and several issues feature pieces by and for the Latina American, such as “Data on Hispanic Women Workers,” “The Chicana Women Yesterday and Today” and an obituary for one of Lansing's first “residentes Mexicanas.” Readers were informed when Carmen Rosa Maymi became the first Hispanic Director of the Women's Bureau of the United States Department of Labor, and when Minerva Lopez, a Latina American from Michigan, was hired as a Civil Rights Specialist with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The last issue here also featured the graduating class of the first Coro Public Affairs Leadership Program for Hispanic Women.

Cultural events appeared often in ER, with photographic coverage of celebrated Hispanic authors, musicians, poets and artists on visits to Michigan, such as “Fiesta Folklorica,” a world-traveling dance company said to “preserve Mexican heritage.” There were announcements and images as well of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, fiestas in honor of ER anniversaries, a Mexican contemporary ceramic exhibit and community classes in Latin American art. Education was also often spotlit, revealing local efforts such as a new “Chicano Advisory Committee” to the Lansing School District Board, childhood reading initiatives and a “Head Start” program, and the Youth Development Corporation, “a unique war on poverty program because it is also a war on delinquency.” One issue reported on a Michigan workshop in “Migrant Education” for teachers from Minnesota, and there was news of local job training as well as national efforts to “place college-bound students from minority backgrounds” in “business firms around the country.”

The issues are rife with Mexican- and Latin-inspired graphic designs and illustrations, photographic announcements of weddings and quinceañeras, features on school and local sports teams and a plethora of other events and activities. There were Spanish- and English-language advertisements for local restaurants and grocers, event room and tuxedo rentals, banks, auto services and more, as well as ads for Quinto Sol Publications, Inc., “Publishers of Chicano Literature” in Berkeley. Many issues also ran original poems, cartoons, job opportunities and calendars of events. The last issue present is the special 15th anniversary edition, which included photographic images of several early issue covers, as well as a great photo montage and list of 43 people who worked on the paper over the years.

An ample sampling of an inspiring and impressive newspaper, produced by and for the Latin American community of Michigan. Holdings of physical issues are mostly uncommon, incomplete and difficult to ascertain. A search of individual library databases revealed similarly sized collections to this one (of variant issues) at three institutions: Michigan State University, University of California, Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin. We also found minimal holdings (between one and six issues) at five other institutions in the United States, two in Canada, one in the United Kingdom and five in Europe. Very good. Item #8183

Price: $3,000.00