By Jerika L.H.
The Autonomous Chapter of the Brown Berets de SacrAztlán is calling for a boycott of Streetlow Magazine after the release of their March magazine cover which depicts a model posing in front of a car in a revealing Brown Berets ensemble without pants. Local Brown Berets de SacrAztlán have released a statement calling for the removal of the image which they say is not only inappropriate in content but was used without their consent.
Member Steven Payan confirms: “In regards to the scantily clad woman in costume being appropriated as a Brown Beret in Streetlow Magazine Issue #76, March, 2016, Streetlow Magazine did not have permission on behalf of the Brown Berets as an organization to use any imagery of the Brown Berets, to be depicted for use in their magazine in this manner or any manner.”
Group members have concurred in anger over the sexualization of their classic attire, the iconic brown uniform, and have called its unlawful use a continuance of both the exploitation of women and the appropriation of Chicano/a culture.
Payan continues, “[A] Brown Beret is not a costume nor an image to be sexually exploited, but an honor and a sworn oath one earns and commits to their community for revolutionary change through culture, education and self-defense. Historically, women have had to struggle against being objectified, exoticized, and exploited for personal gain by perverted men to capitalize on fetishes. In this situation particularly, the Brown Beret women will not be made a link in the chains of oppression in women’s liberation.”
Doreen Garcia Nevel, a 40-year member and longtime activist, represents the Mujeres de Aztlan and the Black Berets Por la Justicia. She is of Yaqui heritage and worked as a local nurse and medical interpreter for over 30 years. For Doreen, the image is not only degrading to the mission of the Brown/Black Berets, but also does a great disservice to the extensive efforts made by the women in her own family, who have struggled to ensure that Chicana women are recognized as strong leaders and not objects for male desire.
She also notes that the disrespectful content of the photo is a stark reminder of the conquest of women and the removal of their rights under colonization. “It’s an insult to the entire Chicana 
community. Our women are warriors who face the triple threat of racism, sexism and imperialism. We are not objects; we are not things. We don’t wear the uniform for the visual pleasure of any man – the uniform is call to action. For 50 years Brown and Black Beret women have been helping strengthen and transform their community. We are not some marketing tactic – we are not for sale.”
Doreen, a historian and curator of Chicana history, is not alone in her opinion that the StreetLow magazine cover disregards and belittles the plight for equality that has been endured by so many Chicana women in the community. The implication, however, delivers a personal blow to her. “The organization known as the Mujeres de Aztlan was cofounded by my mother, Ernestina Garcia. She was a strong Chicana activist during the Chicano movement and lead the Confederacion de la Raza Unida which was made up of 70 Raza organizations in the Santa Clara county.
“Being that I lead a group called the Mujeres de Aztlan (which is made up of some 678 Chicanas), we include brown and black berets in this organization. I founded the Chicano student union in my high school, as well as the Latino health network years ago that investigated the denial of translators in hospitals and doctor’s offices. Revolution is in my blood. My grandpa was a Yaqui soldier in the Mexican Revolution. I have seen the power and might of my people and know that when we are truly united we can move mountains to create change for the betterment of our people.”
Locals and supporters are now calling upon that same people power to ask that Streetlow retract the image, publish an apology, and issue an official statement of unaffiliation. Members of the local Autonomous Chapter of the Brown Berets de SacrAztlán hope this boycott will send a larger message to both advertisers and the media that the reappropriation and pornification of their people will not be taken lightly. Activists took to the streets last week to spread awareness about the use of their image without consent, as they gain support in their boycott against Streetlow.
Currently, 18 other autonomous Brown Beret and Black Beret chapters in Arizona, Texas, California, and Oregon have united to expressed their alliance in the boycott. Streetlow has not replied to their petition or acknowledged its receipt. Streetlow was not available for comment when reached.
The Autonomous Chapter of the Brown Berets de SacrAztlán will be pleased to learn that I have been boycotting Streetlow Magazine for decades, in fact well before the call to action. I do have a question though, is there only one “Autonomous Chapter”?
quielo wrote:
> The Autonomous Chapter of the Brown Berets de SacrAztlán will be
> pleased to learn that I have been boycotting Streetlow Magazine
I have never heard of “Streetlow” magazine, but the cover model looks tame compared to the typical “Lowrider” magazine cover girl. I have not seen inside a “Lowrider” magazine in years (I know it is still around since I saw one not long ago next to a People in Espanol at the checkout counter of a central valley store) but in the late 70’s every high school kid knew that “Lowrider” was a magazine where you could find actual topless women that was not kept “behind the counter” (like Playboy and Penthouse)…
http://www.lowrider.com/brand/lowrider-magazine/
I was curious as to what the Brown Berets represented. I found their mission statement:
http://www.losbrownberets.com/id2.html
“the vanguard”
“We shall resist injustice”
I see your point
I guess you missed this:
“La Raza”
“one day having our People gain political, cultural, and economic control over our homeland”
“We take exception to the Oppressor’s having squatted in Aztlán”
“We are outraged that the Oppressor would dare to presume he has the right to visit a vicious and sadistic legislative siege upon our People here in Aztlán.”
I’m curious as to why both The Pugilist and I have some of our comments missing from here?
[moderator] I think I’ve cleared everything that was queued in the pending folder. Links = pending.
So if Trump said he wanted Caucasians to “People maintain political, cultural, and economic control over our homeland” Do you think he would be denounced as racist?
quielo
Is this is your wish about about Trump and Caucasians ? What is your point ?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aztl%C3%A1n
https://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/06/07/no-conservative-media-s-not-what-la-raza-means-spanish/210786
I doubt you’ll read this but enjoy.
I never read any crap that Media Matters puts out though I’m not surprised that you do.
On your Wiki page I doubt you read far enough down to see this:
I don’t normally, but I was googling a good explanation for what La Raza meant and came on it.
I read the whole thing on Aztlan. What exactly do you think is significant about the passage?
Really?
They feel their homeland is where you now reside.
That doesn’t bother me.
Well that’s good for you, something tells me that it bothers others.
You seem to be interpreting it as sort of a hegemonic statement, whereas I can see it more mundanely as a vision of democratic control and in fact, in ten years, the state of California may largely be run by Latinos.
One of the most easily avoided publications in existence. Customized car culture, with many Chicano participants and fans, has a long history of cheesecake photos. I have seen the photo, un-obscured. (url is visible in photo) It does not come close to any legal offense and is by today’s standards rather mild. Now if it were Paris Hilton in the uniform, you might have a case.
My curiosity is why the comments section is more informative of terms than the article. I had never heard of Aztlan, Brown Berets, or Street Low magazine. Usually a reporter judges the level of understanding of their audience on an issue, and defines terms the audience may not be familiar with. Example: ” . . . Street Low magazine, a magazine catering to custom car ethusiasts in the Low Rider community, . . . “. I was curious enough to click around and find out, but I caution the author that I believe that many potential readers clicked away when none of the terms were either familiar nor explained. This was published on a blog with a wide range of audience, yet seemed targeted as written to a narrow audience that already knows the issues and players.
Is anyone else worried about uniformed soldiers that have a goal of taking back Disneyland?
What’s interesting Sam is just yesterday the Vanguard had an article about shutting down a KKK rally.
Out of interest I looked up the KKK mission statement and their goals sound a lot like this group which is interestingly taking back what they feel is their country:
http://kkk.bz/?page_id=28
“What’s interesting Sam is just yesterday the Vanguard had an article about shutting down a KKK rally.”
“Neo-Nazis to Rally at State Capitol”
What’s interesting is how reliably the usual dis-informative source once again gets all of it wrong.
Of course, I would not necessarily infer that he/she doesn’t bother to read the article before commenting. It could well be a physiological issue.
” Name one commenter on here who has ever shown to be sympathetic to the KKK. What an effing cheap shot.”
First reference to the KKK in the article about a Neo-Nazi rally came from YOU!
If the hood fits…………………………………………
Bitterlin, from yesterday’s article:
Should have written the first commentator. Sincere apologies.
LOL, do you like your egg on the face scrambled or over-easy?
I think this effort could become another example of the Streisand effect with respect to the magazine in question.
Map Atzlan
Atzlan as shown on Wikipedia. Oddly defined, here anyway, by The Oppressors own state boundaries.
Appears that The Oppressors get to keep Washington State, but to remainder the rest of the former United States, will have to fight their way through the panhandle of the state formerly known as Idaho, or detour through southern Canada.
many folk appear to miss the ‘bread crumbs’… to assist… quoted person uses the term Yaqui… native americans also of hispanic/latino descent… the term “Mujeres de Aztlan” … google that… chicano/chicana art network… think Venn Diagram when you see the words ‘include those wearing black/brown berets’ [not tied at the hip]… one of the listed websites in the comments point out that the brown beret folk want to change things by social/political means, and eschew violence [but surely some ‘nut’ within the organization may go “Sandy Hook”, but that was done by a middle class ‘white’ nut].
Look at the magazine website… all the mag covers show pretty much ‘voluptuous’ models, in various stages of undress (low-rider Playboy)… some are looking definitely pre-diabetic. Pretty much all Latina/Chicana… why this one issue was cited, not all of them, other than wearing the ‘brown beret’, is a bit of a puzzlement.
As Will Shakespeare might say, much ado about nothing. Slow news day?
Like the proposed “rally”, best to ignore, particularly regarding media access… that latter just fuels the little flames and fosters “acting out” [which, to me, is different than ‘free speech’…].
I am surprised that the the protester on the photo is not waving Mexican flag. Viva Mexico in USA . Give me a break . La Raza -Race . We know from history a lot about the race. Ein Volk ,Ein Reich , Ein Fuhrer and Mexico , Mexico Uber Alles . This what is La Raza about not about about the Mujeres de Aztlan.
Actually La Raza means the people, not race, in colloquial Spanish.
Maybe in colloquial Spanish but real meaning of this organization name is the Race and these Volks are Mexican nationalists living in USA . I dealt with few of them in UC Davis Medical Center .
Anyone can go to Google Spanish to English translation and type “La Raza”, you get “The race”…
With “racism” now a bad thing we have “racist” group called “La Raza” telling us that they are not racist and that a word now means something different because they say it does…
P.S. Does anyone else find it funny that La Raza tells people its name (The Race) has nothing to do with race and is not racist while the the NAACP tells us that the last two words in it’s name “are” racist and can never be spoken (same for the group in the link below that says the same thing about the second word in its name).
http://www.uncf.org/
And what people are telling you in the links I’ve posted is that that translation is WRONG. If I say the English phrase, “piece of cake,” would you expect me to produce dessert? If I insert that into Google English to translate it comes out, “pedazo de la torta” which is literally a piece of cake, but not what we mean. None of which has anything to do with this article. Thank you BP for getting us off track.
David
I am wondering what answer would be if you would ask this this guy on the photo with the Mexican flag on his short sleeve how he understands the “La Raza” word and how he will translate it to English (if he knows English).? I don’t believe that his response would be a story about “cosmic people ” an Vasconcelos you gave us . This is same meaning as the People Republic of China where People working like a slaves for $30 a months to make goods for America like the other communist couturiers were using term “SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY” . You knows this propaganda. You have Master degree in political science. I have 65 life Dr. Degree in political science and I could read your mind where you heading.
With warm regards
Jerry
Heck, it’s a lot more interesting than reading about some group complaining about someone modeling a brown beret.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Raza
And I’m pretty sure La Raza is using the Mexican Spanish term. Nice try though David.
Meaning The People not the race.
This is from the National Council of La Raza’s page:
“What does the term “La Raza” mean?
The term “La Raza” has its origins in early 20th century Latin American literature and translates into English most closely as “the people” or, according to some scholars, “the Hispanic people of the New World.” The term was coined by Mexican scholar José Vasconcelos to reflect the fact that the people of Latin America are a mixture of many of the world’s races, cultures, and religions. The full term coined by Vasconcelos, “la raza cósmica,” meaning “the cosmic people,” reflects an expansive, inclusive view of the mixture inherent in Hispanics and that Hispanics share a common heritage and destiny with all other people of the world.”
http://www.nclr.org/about-us/faqs/
What is the National Council of La Raza?
The National Council of La Raza (NCLR)—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to build a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos. Through its network of nearly 300 affiliated community-based organizations, NCLR reaches millions of Hispanics each year in 37 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Founded in 1968, NCLR is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Washington, DC, serving all Hispanic subgroups in all regions of the country. It has state and regional offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, and San Antonio.
Uh, BP an many others including those [not BP] posters who came to the US from elsewhere and demonstrate their severe lack of English spelling and grammar…
En anglais, how many ways can “race” be used in the english language? For some of you, it appears that a “horse race” must apply to the species… “race to the top”means white males… “race to the bottom” is for disadvantaged/minorities”… we should ban all athletic meets described as a race… see, https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=race
I hesitate completely agreeing with David and others, but they are damn right on the FACT that “raza” means different things, en espanol, as “race” does en anglais. Get a freaking clue folk! Context/motivation is everything!
If I describe a cigarette or a piece of wood as a ‘faggot’, am I bigoted or saying a hateful word? NO! If I use the term “gay” when I mean happy or carefree, am I characterizing anything? NO!
Some are being ‘el stupido’…
I am not quite sure what David was trying to imply by his comment if anything . He knew.
And how do the native people (Maidu, Gabrielino, etc) feel about Chicanos claiming ancestral control of California? Are they pining for the mission era?
See the Yaqui reference… native americans with Hispanic/latino ancestors… some were perhaps Maidu, Pomo, Coastanoan, etc. In the late 1700’s, early 1800’s, it was not uncommon for the Spanish males to take on Native American wives and have children… very few Spanish women (if any) traveled to California during the “mission period”… nature takes its course… very few Mexican citizens are not of mixed race… get a clue…
Most ‘Chicanos’ (Chicanas) have Native American blood lines… would you like to take this opportunity to re-phrase your question?
hpierce,
Not sure why I cannot reply in line but perhaps the software only supports so many levels of reply. I like your version of events, Spanish and mestizo men came to California and wood the Maidu ladies who were so carried away with the Latin charm they hooked up with the guys and everyone should look back to the time with nostalgia for the fandangos. I had heard some rumor about slavery and rape of the native people but undoubtedly you are correct, likely having seen a Disney film along the way.
Besides the romantic vision of the mission period you have confused the Maidu with the Aztec/Mayan and other groups from central america. Of course if you are a gavacho in Davis you may say “mixed is mixed, it’s all the same”. You may find it matters to the Maidu though.
It only allows for three or four levels of replies. Admins get one additional level which is why you will see Don or myself sometimes with an additional level.
Beside my previous post I would like to mention that I have a friend from Mexico who is my best buddy. He does not speak English than I learn Spanish in last year good enough to freely communicate with him in his native language. He is not a farm worker. He came to this country with his family like many of others folks. I learn a lot from him about the Mexico and Mexican culture and about immigration to USA from the south. He does not like folks from La Raza or Mexicans which disrespect United States waving their flags and claiming that the California is part of Mexico. He gave me opportunity to learn a lot how this massive immigration from the South of the border is possible and so far uncontrollable.
Jerry
“He does not like folks from La Raza or Mexicans which disrespect United States waving their flags and claiming that the California is part of Mexico. He gave me opportunity to learn a lot how this massive immigration from the South of the border is possible and so far uncontrollable.”
It is entirely possible for your friend not to like a particular group and their claims to have at least some merit. We live in a region in which the two largest cities in the area are named San Francisco and Sacramento. This is not because the people living here have such an undying love for the Spanish language that we chose these particular names. It is because of the very complicated and often violent relationship between the United States government, the Mexican government and various indigenous peoples. There are no true heroes, but plenty of oppressed in the story of how the United States came to control vast regions of the southwestern United States. I always find it a bit ironic that those who have benefitted from this history and now control the region are convinced of the righteousness of their claim to this land and want to keep the “foreigners” namely the descendants of those their predecessors drove off the land.
Ms. Tia
I am amazed by your punto de vista on this subject . We can not reverse the history of the indigenous people in America . We could only feel sorry and we have to remember what happened to them to make ” The America Great Again”
With Warm Regards
Jerry
Jerry
While it is true that we can not reverse history, it is equally true that we can choose to stop trying to prevent those whose ancestors were oppressed from restoring demographically and economically that which belonged to their ancestors in the past. Namely, we can choose to stop stacking the deck against those who do not have “white privilege”.
Ms. Tia
Ms. Tia
This not the “WHITE PRIVILIGE” .
The human race is the worse “blood thirsty self-destructive creature”. This the problem. Look what is going on around the world and look into history. It always were , wars and a massive killing and mass extermination of others regardless of the color of the skin . If no color than religion, if no religion than a different tribe or nationality; if no nationality than dictatorship like Nazism or Communism etc.
Wars , wars , wars and killing. We are the “THE COSMIC CREATURES ” which were brought millions years ago on the Planet Earth by the super civilizations from many different planets and this super civilization have for millions of years the TV Reality show by watching human race of all colors, killing and exterminating each other on the PLANET EARTH . This the naked true. THE COSMIC PEOPLE . LA RAZA
Jerry
David
Why yours and my two posts vanished? The “cosmic people” . I will tell my Mexican buddy that he is the cosmic Gente from the south . Cosmic People is the therm related to universe and UFO . Who really cares what is La Raza beside La Raza’s members . Pointless article and pointless discussion if Vanguard is cutting off discussion and forcing on participants “cosmic people”.
David
How it is happened that our posts got to article about Chancellor Katehi
Jerry Waszczuk
June 10, 2016 at 1:11 pm
This is the whole point .
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Jerry Waszczuk
June 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm
David
Where do you see the LA RAZA in this translation ?
There were so many people at the concert I couldn’t see the stage.- HUBO TANTA GENTE EN EL CONCIERTO QUE NO PUDE VER EL ESCENARIO.
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David Greenwald
June 10, 2016 at 2:04 pm
Different use of the word people.
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David Greenwald
June 10, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Another explanation: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=La%20Raza
“term often mistakenly translated into english as meaning “the race”, the true meaning of la raza is much closer to “the people”. this term cannot be properly defined in english by a simple one word answer due to language differences.”
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Jerry Waszczuk
June 10, 2016 at 2:35 pm
David
Beside that I have Mexican buddy , my daughter in law is Chicana and her father from Mexico is American Citizen (very smart guy) and he is a hardcore Republican and he knows exact meaning of LA RAZA term . Is no much closer to “the people” it is far away from the people and closer to goose steps .
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Jerry Waszczuk
June 10, 2016 at 2:22 pm
Give an example because my Mexican buddy never uses La Raza in any context . I think that your Master in Political Science will not help in this subject . The La Raza is THE RACE and is what is stand for. The Mexican nationalism.
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David Greenwald
June 10, 2016 at 2:30 pm
My wife speaks fluent Spanish and has explained this to me.
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Jerry Waszczuk
June 10, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Give me an example . That it .
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What the heck is going on with this cosmic column?
Deflection, it’s the Davis way.
JOSE VASCONCELOS -MEXICAN PHILOSOPHER
(1882-1959)
“THE FINAL RACE, THE COSMIC RACE.”
In Latin America … a thousand bridges are available for the sincere and cordial fusion of all races. The ethnic barricading of those to the north in contrast to the much more open sympathy of those to the south is the most important factor, and at the same time, the most favorable to us, if one reflects even superficially upon the future, because it will be seen immediately that we belong to tomorrow, while the Anglo-Saxons are gradually becoming more a part of yesterday.
The Yankees will end up building the last great empire of a single race, the final empire of White supremacy. Meanwhile, we will continue to suffer the vast chaos of an ethnic stock in formation, contaminated by the fermentation of all types, but secure of the avatar into a better race. In Spanish America, Nature will no longer repeat one of her partial attempts. This time, the race that will come out of the forgotten Atlantis will no longer be a race of a single color or of particular features.
The future race will not be a fifth, or a sixth race, destined to prevail over its ancestors. What is going to emerge out there is the definitive race, the synthetical race, the integral race, made up of the genius and the blood of all peoples and, for that reason, more capable of true brotherhood and of a truly universal vision. . . .
How different the sounds of the Ibero-American development [from that of the Anglo-Saxons]! They resemble the profound scherzo of a deep and infinite symphony: Voices that bring accents from Atlantis; depths contained in the pupil of the red man, who knew so much, so many thousand years ago, and now seems to have forgotten everything.
His soul resembles the old Mayan cenote [natural well] of green waters, laying deep and still, in the middle of the forest, for so many centuries since, that not even its legend remains any more. This infinite quietude is stirred with the drop put in our blood by the Black, eager for sensual joy, intoxicated with dances and unbridled lust. There also appears the Mongol, with the mystery of his slanted eyes that see everything according to a strange angle, and discover I know not what folds and newer dimensions.
The clear mind of the White, that resembles his skin and his dreams, also intervenes. Judaic striate hidden within the Castilian blood since the days of the cruel expulsion now reveal themselves, along with Arabian melancholy, as a remainder of the sickly Muslim sensuality. Who has not a little of all this, or does not wish to have all? There is the Hindu, who also will come, who has already arrived by way of the spirit, and although he is the last one to arrive, he seems the closest relative. .. .
So many races that have come and others that will come. In this manner, a sensitive and ample heart will be taking shape within us; a heart that embraces and contains everything and is moved with sympathy, but, full of vigor, imposes new laws upon the world. . . . We in America shall arrive, before any other part of the world, at the creation of a new race fashioned out of the treasures of all the previous ones: THE FINAL RACE, THE COSMIC RACE.
Jerry
“This not the “WHITE PRIVILIGE” .The human race is the worse “blood thirsty self-destructive creature. This is the problem”
A friend recently told me that violence was human nature. My opinion is that violence is part of human nature. Love, compassion, empathy are all also parts of human nature. We have the ability to choose. We will act with compassion or will we give in to violence ? Our choice.
So you are correct. “White Privilege” is not the problem. It is only our particular manifestation of the problem. In other countries it is as you state, religion, or caste, or ethnicity, or any other means that humans use to separate themselves into “tribes” instead of recognizing our common humanity. The fact that many people are being butchered in other parts of the world does not justify our lesser oppressions here.
Ms. Mia
Oppression is justified always only by the oppressors not by the oppressed .
La Raza….The Race
The arrogance of that is just astounding.
Can you imagine the uproar if caucasions had a group they called……The Race