he Chicano social justice movement inspired an unprecedented cultural flourishment across the nation, including San Diego, from 1968-1979. This cultural renaissance emerged from the efforts of Chicana/o artists and activists, many of whom created art and embraced the identity of “artivists.” Utilizing the farmworker’s labor rights movement slogan: “Sí se puede,” these artivists advanced “la causa” and “el movimiento” through a variety of cultural disciplines ranging from music, murals and the fine arts, to poetry, literature, and the performing arts. Songwriter and musician Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez sang the stories of Barrio Logan residents who fought for a park, Chicano Park, now recognized as a national historic landmark. Introduction: Rita Sanchez – Professor Emerita Mesa College Isidro Ortiz, Ph.D. – SDSU Professor of Chicana/o Studies T
Chapter 5 The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
Barrio Logan resident and artivist Salvador Roberto “Queso” Torres was the visionary of the murals that are now an integral part of Chicano Park. In their roles as cultural architects and advocates, these artivists—and many like them—enhanced their community’s cultural wealth by creating more diverse and equitable cultural environments.
Ramón “Chunky” Sánchez at Chicano Park, 1994 (Photo courtesy Latino Legacy Foundation)
Salvador Roberto Torres and Mario Torero September 11, 2020 (Photo courtesy Sarah Mondragon Torero)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 5 – The Chicano Cultural Renaissance
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