“The Young Lords” in 1975, from left to right: Pablo “Yoruba” Guzmán; Gloria Gonzalez, Field Marshal; Juan Gonzalez, Minister of Defense; Denise Oliver, by Richard Avedon

THE YOUNG LORDS

Erica González considers the achievements made by the “Mujeres of the Young Lords”:

The women defied the party leaders and demanded change. Their pressure resulted in the revolutionary machismo line being dropped and in women being added to all levels of leadership. A new point in the program began with: “We want equality for women. Down with machismo and male chauvinism”…

Half of the content of the Young Lords newspaper, Pa’lante, had to focus on women’s issues. A men’s caucus was formed to deal with machismo. The party established a women’s union with a publication called La Luchadora. And the party’s overall program and work broadened.

“People were defining revolutionary struggle as only militancy,” [Iris] Morales said. But the Young Lords Party, as a result of women organizing within it, took positions against a massive sterilization program directed at Puerto Rican women. The Lords defended a woman’s right to abortion and childcare, for example.

“The Young Lords became known for its positions on women’s issues,” Morales said. “And for recognizing ourselves as Afro Boricuas and of Afro-Taino culture.”

“Wherever a Puerto Rican is, the duty of a Puerto Rlcan is to make the revolution”—Gloria Gonzalez in The Young Lords: A Reader

>via: http://afrodiaspores.tumblr.com/post/59793783187/the-young-lords-in-1975-from-left-to-right