THESIS
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The Young Lords Organization
Historical Context
Protest march on Division and Maple organized by the Young Lords (Flores Protest March).
"Tengo Puerto Rico en mi corazon" - I have Puerto Rico in my heart, reveals the love Puerto Ricans have for their country despite their migration to the U.S in the 20th century (Images).
Puerto Rico was a Spanish colony during the Age of Exploration. As tension between the U.S and Spain increased, the U.S wanted their independence more than ever. During the late 19th century, the U.S had American military troops in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans believed they would finally be a free country. Although Puerto Rico did achieve liberation from the Spaniards, they were not free from the U.S government. Puerto Rico became a military regime for the U.S. which changed the economy to favor Americans, outcasting Puerto Ricans.
Morales, Iris, director. Palante, Siempre Palante! TWN, 1996.
The 1950s to 1960s was the peak of Puerto Rican mass migration to the U.S, especially to Chicago. Many Puerto Ricans had the perception that they would receive better wages in the U.S due to the interactions they had with the white people who had already been settled in Chicago. They saw the lifestyle they lived and seeked that (Santisteban).
Newspaper Article on the Puerto Rican riots(Newspaper Article).
During the first Puerto Rican Day Parade in Chicago, Arcelis Cruz was shot by a police officer. This further increased tensions between police and the Puerto Rican community. "Militant attitude among Latino youth" was becoming more present since younger people were tired of police officers abusing innocent people (Gonzales 3). People, enraged with another innocent person being abused by police officials, began to loot and burn neighborhood business owned by white people to rebel against them. This three day long rebellion contributed to Puerto Ricans fighting back against the power police officials had over them.