Davila, Moreno, Perez, Rodriguez, Salazar, Valdez
April 2021
Denton County LULAC: a 40-year Journey
A Common Purpose
How would you define your last 40 years? And if you are younger, how would you design 40 years of your life?
As we take a visual tour of those here today, we are again reminded of the importance of coming together in unity, with purpose. We each represent an important slice of this community with a different level of passion for the vision and mission of LULAC. Our diverse thinking based on the generational stages represented here today and on our cultural and language background sets the stage for a deeper understanding of us all.
And we should continually hold this mental view of the variety of community members that are impacted by our decisions and how LULAC, over the decades, has labored mightily to seek inclusivity and equity as we continue to share and celebrate our diversity.
A Powerful Beginning
In reminiscing about the birth of the Denton County LULAC Council, 4366, in 1981, many words and phrases come to mind as we attempt to describe this 40 year old organization.
Some of these words and phrases include resiliency, disappointment, anger, a fighting spirit, soul searching, strategizing, collaboration, dreaming, enlightenment, commitment, successful outcomes, and celebrations!
In the beginning we, the Latino community, felt shunned, ignored, and set aside. We knew we were marginalized. However, we resisted adopting that negative portrayal of who we were. We chose instead to harness our combined experiences and thinking and our pride in our language and culture to redefine ourselves rather than relying on others to determine who we were!
We were local citizens with different background and professions. Our group included university professors, teachers, military personnel, business owners, accountants, nurses, and more. As a group, we had different ideas on how to proceed however, we were fully committed to not compromise on our common principle of seeking social justice.
Our focus was not only to gain access to all that was available to everyone else but to convince others that we had leadership skills and talents and thinking that would benefit everyone in the community.
Breaking Down Barriers
We quickly recognized that there were barriers.
The barriers we sought to overcome included voter registration, underrepresentation in the schools, and universities, and in city and county boards and commissions. And since we were not invited to participate in community-wide discussions or Leadership forums, our voice was not incorporated into the decisions that were made that had an impact on us.
We knew decisions were made on our behalf but without our input. The decisions did not reflect the critical needs and support structures that would enhance our lives.
This lack of community-wide diversity and equity was a huge disappointment and that led to our presenting our thinking that at times was with an angry and impatient voice.
We knew we had to create a fighting spirit but one that was based on our search for the best approaches and options so that our argument would have substance connected to a targeted outcome.
Charting A New Course
The research themes during that period of time related to second language learning, increased social and community interaction, active and productive citizenry and a broad-based ownership in helping to create our overall community. That was all in our favor. Change was in the air given the increase in the Latino population and emphasis on social justice. The key was to find the best vehicle that would help us educate and convince others that a transition for a more inclusive community was essential.
LULAC was that vehicle. Established in 1929 in Corpus Christi, TX, LULAC was the strong arm of the Latino movement that was energized by the court cases in the 40’s and 50’s, by the Chicano movement in the 60’s and La Raza party in the 70’s and Familias Unidas in the late 70’s. We understood the collective power of organizing as a group so that we could present our concerns with a cohesive voice that followed on the heels and footsteps of our previous social justice warriors such as Cesar Chávez, Corky González, José Angel Gutierrez, Ramsey Muñiz, Hector Flores, Domingo García, and many more.
The time for talking and planning and strategizing had to move to the action stage. And thus the local LULAC council was born. We knew where we wanted to stand and what we stood for! It was our awakening; one that advocated for those marginalized and without a spirited voice. The groundwork laid by Familias Unidas certainly influenced our work. The transition to LULAC was the district, state and national connection that gave us more visibility and leverage. It was our time to come together and seek to make a difference!
1981 was indeed an eventful year and a new beginning!
A Contextual View
Two songs of that era were “Starting Over” by John Lennon and “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. On the Tejano radio side, we had the very first Tejano Music Awards in 1981 with Roberto Pulido and Lisa López as the top male and female vocalists and of course the ever present Little Joe y La Familia.
We were in great company of start-ups that first year and Lennon dedicated that song just for us! Ja!
During these past 40 years, we have witnessed a multitude of innovative designs and ideas and programs. These include the laptop and iPhone and Facebook and Instagram and Twitter, self-driving vehicles and dancing robots and medical and other technological advances. We can recall the old movies in 1973 and the 9 inch long handheld phone. Apple was introduced in 1976 with McIntosh in 1984 and the World Wide Web in 1989. Our first flip phone, StarTac, hit the market in 1996 followed by texting in 1998. The transformation of how we communicate is unappalled.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite these changes, there are many factors that continue to remain constant reminding our LULAC organization of who we are and how we need to collaborate and seek solutions for a common good. We continue to struggle with the norms set aside for social justice. The norms that at times are not accessed by or made available to every single United States citizen. We still have divisive issues that stimulate discord. And some U.S. citizens are still uncomfortable with our diverse languages and cultures and customs that are changing the national societal landscape.
Religious, political, and individual perspectives have been weaponized and incorporated in our daily interactions. The social behaviors related to values and respect and honesty are not as highly esteemed or cultivated.
The “social media” has become anti-social in many instances as we demean and criticize each other and then “unfriend” those whom we electronically had previously welcomed and accepted as friends.
Even our photographs can be cropped and adjusted so that we can eliminate another person from our photo with ease, as if they never existed. Frank Davila’s, wife, Laura, and one of her girlfriends, had a surprise opportunity to take a photo with John Travolta as he waited for his plane to be readied at the Centennial Airport in Englewood, Colorado, adjacent to the restaurant where we were eating and listening to Boogie Bob play his magic on the piano. Later the photo appeared on Facebook with just Laura and John Travolta - and her friend asked - what happened to me? Later, only she and John appeared on the photo.
And here we are today, four decades later, contemplating our past through photos and stories while working on our future through the current actions in our present world.
Our Current Focus
We are not here today, ladies and gentlemen, to rest on our laurels. We are here to celebrate our organizational birthday and to honor the hard work and leadership of so many who came before us. Please take a look at the panels with photos and programs depicting the efforts of some of the “pioneras y pioneros” or pioneers who dedicated their thinking and energy and time to build this organization. That was a monumental effort.
We also proudly congratulate and support the current LULAC leaders who now have the distinct opportunity to keep moving forward. The continued research of the most pressing needs of today, within the context of our current world events, will lead them to design the most relevant and powerful ways in which the local council can continue to advocate for and champion on behalf of those in need.
Our proud and mature 40 year old history is comprised of so many beautiful stories that are still very vivid and other stories that are now forming and weaving their way into our colorful and diverse LULAC fabric that continues to be displayed in community forums and venues.
When the community sees this work unveiled and unfurled, they can truly see how this local organization has now become an essential and indispensable part and voice of the whole community. And yet, there is more to come as new generations assume the lead roles.
Celebrating LULAC
So as we celebrate our fortieth year, let’s also continue to stand tall and firm and proud and committed to all that is good and equitable and uplifting. Let’s stand ready to use our collective voice and strategic actions to fight for those rights we know are not fully accepted or honored and that still present barriers to those whom we swore to protect.
However, for those of us who are at the higher side of the 40 year spectrum, I must say that it is so inspiring and gratifying to see many of the LULAC and civic leaders of today who were young high school and university students when our local chapter was installed in 1981. They are now picking up the mantle and that is a live testimonial of how we all have the power to impact our future generations.
And so the work of Denton County LULAC Council continues! And for that, you are to be saluted for moving forward!
The Future of LULAC
The birth of LULAC was not an accidental event. It was the collective response by the Chicano, Latino community and leaders at that time to strategically design steps that would propel LULAC into an active and decision-making body within the community.
There is still so much work to be accomplished as we continue to fight the barriers of racism and child incarcerations, and gerrymandering. We do not need to manipulate voters to benefit one party or the other nor should we wantonly push our agenda and values unto others without sending a message that we also seek to understand their needs and to pursue a more balanced approach that is inclusive and respectful of our diversity and thus more equitable.
¡Adelante! ¡Sí se Puede!