Luis Valdez by Luis Valdez

Author:Luis Valdez
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arte Público Press
Published: 2013-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Militants

1969

Characters

Dr. Bolillo

Chicano #1

Chicano #2

A Gabacho enters and approachoes the microphone.

GABACHO: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I am Dr. Bolillo and I am here to welcome you to the University of California’s lecture series. We are very pleased to bring you an especially delightful speaker this evening. He is a well known member of the Mexican-American community, a rapper and most importantly, a militant. He has kindly consented to come here tonight and “tell it like it is.” It is with great pleasure, therefore, that I now introduce this young man who is going to come out here and “sock it to us.” His name is Benjamin Dejo — Ben Dejo! Let’s give him a big hand. (Applause.) Ben? (Two Chicano militants enter. The GABACHO only sees one of them. He shakes his hand. The other militant taps him on the shoulder. Turning.) Oh, another one. Well, there must be some mistake. We only asked for one. Which one of you is Ben Dejo? (Both militants step forward.) I see. Okay. Well, sit down while we settle this. (They sit down.) Will the real militant Ben Dejo please rise? (Both rise.) Gentlemen, I tell you what we are going to do. We’re going to allow you both to speak. So that means that you are going to have to be Chicano #1 and you, Chicano #2. Okay? (Militants agree.) The floor is yours.

CHICANO #1: (To CHICANO #2.) Orale, ese, vamos a darles en la madre, ¿eh?

CHICANO #2: That’s together, sock it to ‘em. (They do the chicano handshake.)

CHICANO #1: (At the microphone.) Señoras y señores, ladies and gentlemen, and Anglos.

GABACHO: (From his chair.) Oh, that was good. Good start!

CHICANO #1: I didn’t come here tonight to beat around the bush, so I’m not going to do it. I come here to tell you the truth. Our people are starving in the barrios and slaving in the fields for starvation wages. You know how come? Because of the oppression and economic exploitation that Anglo growers and businessmen have imposed upon us. So long as these damn Anglos have all the economic and political power to control us, we’re going to be at the bottom of the barrel. We’ve got to get together and organize. Unite! Strike! We’ve got to march to Sacramento like César Chávez! Demand better wages, better schools, better jobs. ¡Viva la huelga! ¡Viva la causa!

CHICANO #2: Raza! I’ve come here tonight to tell you where it’s at. I agree with everything the carnal here had to say, but now I’m going to tell you what’s really happening. Our Raza is starving in the barrios and slaving in the fields for starvation wages. You know how come? Because of the oppression and economic exploitation of this gringo sitting right here! This gabacho!

GABACHO: That’s me. I admit it. (Beats his chest.)

CHICANO #2: My non-violent carnal means well, but we gotta do more than march! We’ve got to drive the gabacho out of the barrio! ¡Viva la huelga! ¡Viva la causa! ¡Viva la raza!

GABACHO: ¡Viva! Sock it to me, baby!

CHICANO #1: Okay.

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