It is hard, I think, for some of us who have been in the furnace of political struggle, to
 sometimes set aside the passions that fired not only solidarity, but burnt deep differences 
amongst us.  Trying to reconcile this in the face of Corky's passing is one of the things with 
which we, in Denver, will struggle.  The Crusade for Justice and Corky Gonzales were bigger 
than life in Denver and an even stronger presence for Chicanos here.

For me, Corky emerged as a father figure much different from the father who raised me.  
Corky was strong, very often protective and, at times, stern.  We knew that Corky was willing to
 lay it all on the line in his confrontations with politicians, with the government and with the 
police; who were armed and very willing to use violence against someone they perceived as a 
threat.  Corky taught us to stand up.  Corky taught that principle was more important than
 temporary gratification.  Corky was not afraid to stand alone... and often did.  He kept us honest
 because Corky was a man.  He felt very strongly about what that meant and was willing to
 prove it the way he proved it in the ring those many years ago. "You and me! Toe to toe!  
May the best man win!"  Fully confident that his heart was bigger than anyone else's.

The Crusade for Justice is very unique in terms of Chicano Movement organizations.  
The Crusade offered a comprehensive program based on Chicano Nationalism.  They advanced
 the concept that we must look after ourselves first and that we should control the institutions
 within our communities.  They supported labor issues (not just jobs, but dignity), education and
 curriculum reform, and police accountability.  For anyone growing up in Denver, and across 
many cities in the Southwest, the police were the scourge of the communities of color.  Police
 were untouchable, prone to violence and protected by a system that, to this day, offers only
 minimal restraint.  Chicanos who challenged them became a target for harassment, arrest or 
violence.  The Crusade saw that all our issues were connected.   This country did not respect us
 as citizens, did not want our participation in its economic benefits and would have preferred that
 we remained faceless and silent.  This led to only one resolution ...independence.  Political,
 economic and cultural independence from the United States.  This would allow Chicanos to set
 their own agenda without interference or temptation from that same entity that was the cause of
 our difficulties. 

The Crusade for Justice established a school, La Escuela Tlatelolco, which still exists.  
Without the Crusade there would be no Chicano Studies Department, where I currently teach.
 Federico Pena would never have been elected Mayor of Denver and so many people would not
 have been given strength and guidance.

Years ago, I was allowed to direct Corky's play, "The Revolutionist".   It was based on his 
father's experience as an immigrant in this country. It ends somewhat sadly, however, with the 
man who had fought in the Mexican Revolution now living in the United States defiantly 
fighting an uphill battle to prevent his family from being swallowed up by this society.  
Corky Gonzales' life rewrote "The Revolutionist's" ending.  For so many of my generation, our
 lives are changed because one man showed us how to stand.  Corky chose not to be treated 
when given the prognosis by his doctors.   He said his time was coming and he would accept his
 end like a man...head held high.

Corky was the role model that I did not have in my own family.  

One element of colonization that we seldom talk about is the emasculation of the colonized 
male.  We are either stripped of all pride and become docile or the anger flares so greatly that we
 turn the violence on ourselves, on our children and on our women.  Corky was a macho who 
said that machismo is about taking care of your responsibilities, raising your children, respecting
 your woman, honoring your family and fighting for your people.

In a seminal work of Chicano literature, "I am Joaquin", Corky takes the lead character,
 legendary hero Joaquin Murrieta, and tells us that we are all Joaquin, and thus, intrinsically 
connected.  In this sense Corky lived his life for us.

TG