Gonzales, Rodolfo, << guhn ZAH lihs, roh DOHL foh >> (1928-2005), was a leader of the Chicano movement, a civil rights campaign by Mexican Americans. Through his activism and writing, he urged Mexican Americans to be proud of their history, culture, and accomplishments.
Gonzales was born on June 18, 1928, in Denver. He was nicknamed “Corky” in his childhood. In 1965, he founded the Crusade for Justice, a group that worked to provide social services and to develop job opportunities for Mexican Americans. His popular poem “I Am Joaquin” (1967) describes the injustices suffered by people of Mexican descent. Gonzales died on April 12, 2005.
