Conversations with social justice activists

07/19/19 • 24 min

Alfredo Daniel Garza "Danny", Keeping Community Organizing Alive

Raza Voz and Karl Soltero having a conversation with Teresa Castellanos and Ketzal Gomez, a mother and daughter’s two generations of social justice activism. How Teresa has witnessed the the social justice movement and the changes and evolution of the Mexican-American experience and Raza in general in the USA and particularly in California. And how a new activist, Ketzal Gomez, a member of the new generation called LATINX is following in her mother’s footsteps with her commitment to social justice.

Future conversations will continue to focus on themes involving social justice, particularly because of the political climate that we live in today. Raza Voz feels it is critically important to mobilize Raza to participate in our civic duty by joining community and civic organizations, voting and becoming aware of the issues that are negatively affecting the quality of life of Raza and all citizens.

Next Episode

Fred Hirsch: From Sal Si Puedes to the grape fields of Delano

As a young boy growing up in Depression-era New York City, Fred Hirsch knew racism and discrimination because of his Jewish background. Beatings, name-calling and harassment created a sense of social justice that he brought with him when he moved to San Jose in the 60’s.

As an active union man, Fred met Chicano activists who successfully addressed police brutality, education reform, health care issues and voting rights for San Jose’s Chicano community in Sal Si Puedes and other barrios.

Taking his organizing skills to the grape fields of Delano, Fred became a trusted adviser and organizer for Cesar Chavez and the United farm Workers Union, going from the urban civil rights battlefields of San Jose to the grape fields of Delano and the Central Valley.

Fred Hirsch is what Jewish people call a mensch, a person of integrity and honor, a human being whose sense of righteous anger made him a beloved figure in Raza communities throughout California and beyond.