Bert Corona: The Father of the Modern Day Chicano Movement

by Herman Baca
President
Committee on Chicano Rights

With the passing of Humberto "Bert" Corona, the Mexicano/Chicano people in the U.S. and Mexico, have lost a warrior. An epoca has passed and a good man, that I had the privilege of knowing and working with, is gone.

With Humberto "Bert" Corona's passing, the Mexicano/Chicano people, today are poorer.

History will record, that before there was a Cesar Chavez, Corky Gonzales, Reis Tijerina, Jose Angel Gutierrez, and many others, that first there was Humberto "Bert" Corona. History will also record that Humberto "Bert" Corona, "THE FATHER OF THE MODERN DAY CHICANO MOVEMENT," fought and struggled for decades, up to his final breath to bring justice, organization, and political power to the Mexicano/Chicano people in the U.S.

All of us, whether activists, immigrants, campesinos, students, young people, politicans, union leaders and every day working people, owe Humberto "Bert" Corona, a great historical debt. A debt that can only be repaid by continuing the unfinished historical struggle that Humberto "Bert" Corona lived and died for.

Bert's philosophical, ideological, political perspectives, and leadership will be sorely missed by all who walked, marched, protested, fought, organized and struggled in the Chicano Movement with him. QUE DESCANSA EN PAZ!