Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Latinos in American Society and Culture

Memories of Chicano History: The Life and Narrative of Bert Corona

Rate this book
Who is Bert Corona? Though not readily identified by most Americans, nor indeed by many Mexican Americans, Corona is a man of enormous political commitment whose activism has spanned much of this century. Now his voice can be heard by the wide audience it deserves. In this landmark publication―the first autobiography by a major figure in Chicano history―Bert Corona relates his life story.

Corona was born in El Paso in 1918. Inspired by his parents' participation in the Mexican Revolution, he dedicated his life to fighting economic and social injustice. An early labor organizer among ethnic communities in southern California, Corona has agitated for labor and civil rights since the 1940s. His efforts continue today in campaigns to organize undocumented immigrants.

This book evolved from a three-year oral history project between Bert Corona and historian Mario T. García. The result is a testimonio , a collaborative autobiography in which historical memories are preserved more through oral traditions than through written documents. Corona's story represents a collective memory of the Mexican-American community's struggle against discrimination and racism. His narration and García's analysis together provide a journey into the Mexican-American world.

Bert Corona's reflections offer us an invaluable glimpse at the lifework of a major grass-roots American leader. His story is further enriched by biographical sketches of others whose names have been little recorded during six decades of American labor history.

404 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1994

2 people are currently reading
49 people want to read

About the author

Mario T. García

34 books5 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
5 (26%)
4 stars
8 (42%)
3 stars
4 (21%)
2 stars
2 (10%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Profile Image for Juan.
52 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2021
Bert Corona's life is intriguing to study because he had decades of organizational expertise. We can all benefit from his insights and tenacity in the Mexican working-class struggles, particularly his incorporation of undocumented folks into unions in the United States. This is a must-read for anybody involved in organizing the Mexican Working Class.
Displaying 1 of 1 review

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.