El Popo [Broken run of 31 issues].

Northridge, CA: Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, 1970-1987. 16” x 11¼”. Newsprint. Pp. 4-20, most pp. 8-16. Publication sequence [numbering inconsistent, as issued]: Vol. I, Special Issue (May 6 1970); Vol. II, Nos. 1, 2, 4, 5 [1970]; Vol. III, Nos. 1, [unnumbered] [1971]; Vol. 4, Nos. 2-4 [1971-1972]; Vol. 5, Nos. 1, 2, 4 [1972-1973]; Vol. 6, No. 1 (Mar 30 1973); Vol. 10, No. 1 (Sep/Oct 1976); Vol. 11, No. 1 (Sep 1977); Vol. 12, Nos. 1 (Mar 1978), 2 (May 1978); Vol. 13, Nos. 3-5 (Mar-Jul 1979); Vol. 14, Nos. 1 (Oct/Nov 1979), 3-5 (Jan – May/Jun 1980); Vol. 15, Nos. 1 (Oct/Nov 1980), 3 (Feb/Mar 1981), 4 (Apr/May 1981); Vol. 16, Nos. 1 (Sep/Oct 1981), 2 (Nov/Dec 1981); Vol. 22, No. 1 (Oct/Nov [1987]). Generally very good: folded horizontally at center, presumably as issued; most with postal or ex-library markings; a few with tiny tears at fold or corner; some inked or penciled notations; light edge wear and toning.

This is a large group of issues of a scarce Spanish- and English-language newspaper produced by a student activist group at what is now California State University, Northridge (CSUN), El Popo. Filled with powerful artwork and photographic images of protests, the paper documents the efforts of young Chicano/a Americans to better their position in their school, state and world.

In April of 1969, as the Chicano Movement (El Movimiento) was gaining steam, students from twelve universities met at the University of California, Santa Barbara; El Plan de Santa Barbára grew out of the conference. The Plan called for the unification of student activist groups into one umbrella organization, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, known as MEChA, and also led to the implementation of Chicano Studies programs throughout the California university system. In the Fall of that year, the first group of Chicanos entered San Fernando Valley State College (SFVSC, now CSUN) under a newly developed special admission policy and into the Department of Mexican American (now Chicana/o) Studies. They formed a MEChA chapter and began printing El Popo in 1970. The paper was named after the Mexican volcano Popocatepetl; we have previously handled its first issue, which stated that “Like a volcano, the Chicano movement has a fiery beauty about it, and is able to lie dormant for centuries, yet capable of exploding at any moment. Like a volcano, the movement should be beheld with respect.” From 1969 to 1971, MEChA grew rapidly in California; it exists today (having gone through a few name changes) as a national organization, per their Wikipedia page, “that seeks to promote Chicano unity and empowerment through political action.” We find evidence of the newspaper running until at least 2008.

This collection spans nearly two decades, and each of the issues is overflowing with current events and Chicano/a community efforts at the college, throughout the Los Angeles area, and across the state and nation. We read about Latin Americans' dissatisfaction with Ronald Reagan as governor and later as president, as well as the failures of global political leaders in the eyes of the Hispanic community. In just one issue (Vol. II, No. 4, of October 1970), EP reported on union strikes and boycotts concerning California farm workers and upholsterers in Texas, the National Chicano Moratorium Rally in Los Angeles, and an interview with Corky Gonzales and his Colorado “Crusade for Justice.” It ran a two-page illustrated introduction to MEChA and its committees along with a statement of the paper's goals – “we will continue task until injustices cease to be hurled at us.” That same issue exposed police harassment of the Brown Berets and the arrest of Ben Saiz, SFVSC sophomore class president, at a peaceful demonstration; an officer's damaging sentiment (“I was confronted by a group of Mexican-Americans and was fearing for my safety”) that has been echoed through the years. It announced a new Chicano Community Center as well as a “partial list of Church property”: “Blessed are the poor (they say) for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven – The CHURCH, it seems, is quite satisfied in inheriting Los Angeles County.”

Detailed features with fantastic photographic images revealed strikes and protests, meetings and conferences, as well as artists and entertainers of Hispanic descent. The April/May 1981 issue covered a “Mass Support Rally for El Salvador” in Los Angeles and a festival celebrating “La Raza” in San Diego, with a “Cultura” section on the school's “Mariachi” band, “Ballet Folklórico” and “Jarocho” group, known for their Veracruz, Mexico-style minstrel music. Several issues documented MEChA's long-running theater group, “Teatro Aztlán”; the students hoped that “by exposing the injustices and presenting potential solutions” within their performances “that people will be more inspired to organize for social change.”

EP loudly broadcast their solidarity with women and other marginalized groups; many issues ran items concerning “The Chicana,” Native American activism, labor unions and AIDS victims. There was also an exposé of the county jail's medical services: “you'll realize that, just as 'law' today has nothing to do with justice, 'medicine' has nothing to do with health and well being. At least not for poor people.” One issue ran a statement from Angela Davis, and another, protesting allocations of University funds, alleged the school's “attempt to play the Black against the Chicano and the Chicano against the Black. Although this tactic is not new, I am shocked that professional educators would stoop to this level.”

Every issue had original poems by members of La Raza as well as political cartoons and powerful Hispanic art, much of it in vivid color. There were special anniversary issues, and Vol. 13, No. 5 was the “collective” result of the “First Biannual Chicano Newspaper Conference,” held on weekends throughout June 1979 at CSUN. That issue printed the “principles of unity” of the four participating newspapers, along with a great image of some of their staff, about evenly split between young men and women. Each issue also ran great illustrated advertisements (hand-drawn, in earlier issues) for local restaurants, businesses and services, as well as for Pacifica Radio, a Latin American songbook and other publications of interest to the community. EP also produced and marketed a style sheet and instruction book on putting out leaflets and newspapers.

A fantastic sampling of an important Chicana/o student activist newspaper. OCLC shows limited holdings at 17 institutions. Very good. Item #8184

Price: $1,000.00