Latino Leadership Series, Carlos Galindo:

A voice in the wilderness

Here's food for thought:

In speaking about Mexican immigrants it is important to understand that "in a sense [they were]
not immigrants at all and certainly they were unlike [those from] Europe. European immigrants
went through a process of assimilation in which the second generation completely rejected the
culture of its parents. Mexicans who settled in the Southwest usually did not have that
opportunity, for they entered a society which had already determined the role that dark-skinned
Mexicans who spoke little English would play...'every generation of Mexican Americans has, in
ignorance, been reliving its history,' as Rodolfo Álvarez has aptly explained. Individuals might
break out of the pattern, but...Mexican Americans as a group seemed fated to remain foreigners
in a land that had been native to their ancestors."

--David J. Weber, Foreigners in Their Native Land: Historical Roots of the Mexican Americans

Time and again, this writer has emphasized, through historical facts, as part of his commentaries,
the idea that Mexican American culture, derived from thirty centuries of Mexican history and a
common border with the Mexican Republic, is and always will be indigenous to the American
Southwest. We have been treated and scorned as foreigners since The Texas Revolution and the
signing of The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. These are included, because these clearly illustrate
the past attitudes and actions of Anglo Americans, Mexicans and Mexican Americans that have
created today's American Southwest. They are not included to be capricious.

Our bilingual heritage has been and is still under attack through discriminatory laws that are
aimed squarely, if not at all Latinos, then certainly at Mexican Americans and Mexicans. These
themes will be repeated again and again because they need to be reinforced time after time until
Mexican Americans begin to appreciate the richness and value of who they are and
the irreplaceable work ethic and our sacrifices, through waves of immigration, have contributed
to the great American prosperity of the Twentieth Century. We are not foreigners, neither is the
Spanish language and neither is our culture.

Many Mexican Americans, rather than having pride in our culture and heritage, choose complete
submission and subjugation to Anglo American racism. Many Mexican Americans perceive that
Mexican immigrants (and those Mexican Americans who retain their birthright to their historical
heritage and pride) are a threat to their advancement in American society. Of course, this is
faulty thinking. For example: No city in the United States is more bilingual than Miami,
Florida, and yet, while Cubans have retained their ethnic heritage and the Spanish language,
they have been the most successful group of Latino immigrants in the United States. Why
haven't Mexican Americans gotten this message? Our mestizo culture, which is Pan-
Latino, creates a philosophy of an "AND" not an "OR" way of Life: Mexican and American; not
Mexican or American.

Could it be that our "Hispanic" leaders in Arizona have chosen economic and political
accommodation over rocking the political boat in place of using their own personal achievements
in the American system to stand up for the civil rights of those least able to speak and stand up
for themselves? Many call themselves Latinos, Latinas and Hispanics, but do they dare call
themselves Mexicans? Perhaps they have become too comfortable in the financial and social
success in Anglo American society to step out of line and risk all they have worked for over the
years. This is understandable. But, is it ethically the right thing to do?

Alternatively, do they distance themselves as much as they can from the Anglo American
perceptions of a "Mexican" in order to avoid any association with the negative connotations that
the word "Mexican" has in American society?

These are important questions and they need to be asked. If anyone Hispanic is offended, then
perhaps, dear Reader, one should look inside one's own soul for a truthful answer to these
questions.

In spite of the lack of a vociferous and assertive Mexican American leadership in Arizona, there
are some who risk scorn and mockery to speak for those who are driven into the dark and
oppressive shadows of American society. While Joe Arpaio deliberately hunts down
undocumented laborers that were encouraged to come to this country by American
businesspersons, while Russell Pearce introduces racist bills into the Arizona legislature, and that
Governor Jan Brewer signs into law, there is one voice that shouts out against such tyranny. His
name is Carlos Galindo.

Perhaps you have listened to his radio program on Phoenix' KASA Radio 1540 AM. Mr.
Galindo's radio program daringly addresses the issues and seemingly insurmountable challenges
that the immigrant and Mexican American communities face. He dares to question the Arizona
political power structure demanding answers for their discriminatory actions.

No one pays Mr. Galindo to speak for the disenfranchised. He pays for his air time out of his
own retirement income. He is, therefore, beholden to no one when he speaks. Regardless of
whether you agree with him, he puts his money where his mouth is. How many Mexican
American leaders in Arizona do that?

Here is a recent, personal interview with Carlos Galindo:

PNR: "Carlos, first I want to thank you for taking time out of your hectic schedule to participate
in this interview. I also want to thank you for being a defender of our people, language(s) and
culture and bringing to light the injustices forced upon our people.

"I have some questions that I hope will help other Americans understand your aims and goals,
and that in your fight for civil liberties for Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans that you
are, in the long run, fighting for the civil rights of all Americans, in a similar fashion to Rosa
Parks refusing to sit at the back of the bus.

"My first question is this: What personal information do you feel it is important to share with
Examiner readers that will give them a brief but concise snap-shot of Carlos Galindo?"

C. G. "I am a profound thinker--an analyst of life itself. My wisdom has come to me through my
interaction with, not just my people (the immigrants like me), but from people of all walks of life
and all educational and socio economical levels. They are what have formed who I am.

"I don't regret having had to live such a difficult life. The mistakes I made have also helped in
forming who I am. Today, I feel I am not just a person who assumes the lead, but an instructor to
those who either don't have the time to read and better understand a system, or for those who
have been given misinformation. My entire objective in my work today is to create social
conscience."

PNR: "It's obvious from you last statement that you are an 'immigrant' from Mexico to the
United States. What part of Mexico are you originally from?"

C. G:"Mexicali, Baja California del Norte."

PNR: "At what age did your family bring you to the United States?"

C. G: "I was 1 1/2 years old when I came to the United States."

PNR: "Where did you grown up and what are some of your most impressionable childhood
memories?"

C. G: ” Imperial Valley California."

"My memories are of working in the fields as a child and playing in them with my friends and
nephews, walking through the fertile soil and feeling it as it made its way through my toes
sometimes hot from the summer sun, and at times from the cold, after it had just been tilled by
those massive tractors that seem to run 24 hours in that agricultural environment.

"I had a dog. I used to run with Little Red, a bird dog (Labrador) as he chased the birds that
resided in the massive trees outside the farmhouse we lived in. There were the smells of the
fields around me as the scents of corn, tomato, onion, watermelon, cantaloupe combined to
produce an unforgettable collage of aromas.

PNR: "What about your school years in the United States?"

C. G: "I have memories of being yanked out of my comfortable environment amongst my peers,
primarily comprised of other minority children, and being sent to an all white school as part of a
desegregation process. The trauma I incurred, the abuse from other students, the teachers, and the
name calling have stayed with me and have allowed me to fully understand what xenophobia and
racism truly is.
"As I entered Junior High and my mother worked long hours as a housekeeper for the wealthy
ranchers she also struggled to send me to the very school their children attended. Going to
Catholic School and having to attend mass as part of the curriculum was impressionable and
having a nun as a teacher gave me a different perspective on life.

"When I finally arrived in High School I remember being influenced by the cholo environment. I
became a cholo and delved into that environment. It brought me a sense of brotherhood and
culture that was crucial in my understanding of all aspects of Mexican American culture: The
low riders, the music, the look. I insisted that my Mother not touch my clothes because only I
could put the necessary crease in that khaki pant and in those white T-shirts. The discipline in
shining my shoes better than a military man could shine his own shoes gave me a sense of pride."

PNR: "You are a civil rights leader in Metropolitan Phoenix: When did you become interested
in civil rights?"

C. G: "I attended Cesar Chavez rallies as a child, taken there by my sisters and my Mother. I
suffered racial abuse all my life and watched as they demeaned my Mother and my family. These
experiences have always burned within me. I slowly and precariously prepared for that time in
which I would be able to articulate my people's message in a manner that was understandable
and in a manner that was productive for my people. It has been crucial to me to be well spoken
so as not to embarrass my people. I came out strong in the last 5 years because I have witnessed
a failed leadership, misinformation and apathetic behavior on behalf of the current Mexican
American/Latino "leadership". I studied Chicano studies in college and that was an important
part of understanding about many aspects of my people's struggles."

PNR: "What prompted you to make the decision to become a civil right advocate for Latinos?"

C. G: "The failure of the current "leaders" to use modern methods to battle an ever-growing
onslaught of racial attacks, an anti-immigrant legislature and a return to the days of open abuse
against my people.

"When I pled with those [Mexican American] "leaders" to march my people to the polls and not
in the streets, they told me to take a hike!

"I knew it was time for me to change our society and the direction of this struggle."

End of Part I: "Latino Leadership Series: Carlos Galindo: A voice in the wilderness"

You can listen and participate on Carlos Galindo's Talk Show, "Hablando Claro," on
KASA AM 1540 AM. You can also pick up Carlos' program on a new Tucson radio
station, JOLT 1330 AM.

Look for Part II of this personal interview with one of the most vibrant Mexican American
civil rights leaders in Maricopa County, if not all of Arizona.