1982 · San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas: El Pueblo, 1982. Very good. 17” x 11½”. Newsprint. Pp. 8 [earlier issues printed in dos-à-dos format: pp. 4 English, 4 Spanish each]. Publication sequence: Vol. I, Nos. 5 (Jul 1979), 7-12 (Oct 1979 – Apr 1980); Vol. II, Nos. 3-6 (Sep 1980 – Mar/Apr 1981), [Special Cinco de Mayo issue] (1981), 7 (Aug 1981), 9-11 (Mar/Apr – Aug/Sep 1982). Generally very good or better: folded horizontally at center, likely as issued; a few with creases from additional old folds; four with postal or library markings; three with small staple holes throughout; one with a small tear at top edge not affecting any content; some light toning, edge and corner wear.
This is a group of issues of a rare bilingual newspaper that was published by a team of volunteers and distributed in impoverished neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas, El Pueblo (EP). Filled with photographic images, political cartoons and powerful illustrations, the issues covered local, national and international news of importance to the Latin American residents of “The Village.”
Per a Texas Public Radio feature of 2022, EP was published ad-free and independently from 1979 to 1982 by “a ragtag group of young Mexican American activists and students” working out of a garage. The paper served San Antonio’s West Side, a predominantly Mexican American community bereft of access to adequate health care, public transportation or opportunities to earn a living wage. A donation of 25 cents was requested, but the paper was distributed free of charge.
The first issue here shows a Spanish tagline translating to “Voice of the Mexican Community” (on both the English and Spanish sides) while the remaining issues tout the paper as the “Bilingual Voice of the Working Community.” Most of the content concerned the rampant economic and political injustice facing San Antonio's Hispanic residents, as well as efforts to boost their conditions. Vol. I, No. 5 reported on a trial involving the city's “utilities monopoly” and their board, “consisting of local rich businessmen” who “simply increase rates or enforce 'adjustments' at will.” Vol. II, No. 3 urged “Tenants: Know Your Rights” and Vol. II, No. 5 announced a new local “Coalition of Hispanic and Labor Organizations.” Each issue had a “Perspectiva Femenil” (“Female Perspective”) column, and one that translated to “The People United,” addressing topics like labor unity, social welfare, undocumented workers, “Sexism on the Job” and “What Happened to Our 'Leaders'?”
One staff writer, Armandina Saldivar, was particularly known to champion the disadvantaged. She penned a feature on “How The Court System 'Works'” in Vol. I, Issue 8, as well as a later exposé that caused quite a stir. After a raid on a local brothel, Saldivar obtained a copy of madam Theresa Brown's “Trick List” and published some of the names in Vol. II, No. 5. The list included some of the “'high and mighty' of San Antonio, who in the past have constantly accused the Blacks, the Mexicans, the poor and working people of being immoral, corrupt and law breakers.”
EP also ran state, national and international news. Vol. II, No. 3 reported on Manuel Muñoz' case against Kelly Air Force Base; he had been fired, reinstated for a few days then terminated again three times in as many months so as to be a “temporary worker,” ineligible for benefits. There were calls for support of El Salvador and for the United Farm Workers union, as well as coverage of “critical” relations between the United States and Mexico. One issue told of “serious construction problems discovered at the South Texas Nuclear Project,” and there were news briefs from San Jose, California, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. Vol. II, Issue 11 had a great photographic image of San Antonio's “Mexican Cultural National Ballet,” “well received in S.A., in Texas and in Mexico,” as well as a list of local businesses where readers could find the paper and a laid-in flyer for a rally against unfair immigration laws. All of the issues also featured Hispanic-inspired graphic designs and powerful political art.
Rare, compelling coverage of, and for, the Latin American community of San Antonio. OCLC shows three institutions with physical holdings (two in Texas and one in London), and two with microfilm. (Inventory #: 8191)
This is a group of issues of a rare bilingual newspaper that was published by a team of volunteers and distributed in impoverished neighborhoods in San Antonio, Texas, El Pueblo (EP). Filled with photographic images, political cartoons and powerful illustrations, the issues covered local, national and international news of importance to the Latin American residents of “The Village.”
Per a Texas Public Radio feature of 2022, EP was published ad-free and independently from 1979 to 1982 by “a ragtag group of young Mexican American activists and students” working out of a garage. The paper served San Antonio’s West Side, a predominantly Mexican American community bereft of access to adequate health care, public transportation or opportunities to earn a living wage. A donation of 25 cents was requested, but the paper was distributed free of charge.
The first issue here shows a Spanish tagline translating to “Voice of the Mexican Community” (on both the English and Spanish sides) while the remaining issues tout the paper as the “Bilingual Voice of the Working Community.” Most of the content concerned the rampant economic and political injustice facing San Antonio's Hispanic residents, as well as efforts to boost their conditions. Vol. I, No. 5 reported on a trial involving the city's “utilities monopoly” and their board, “consisting of local rich businessmen” who “simply increase rates or enforce 'adjustments' at will.” Vol. II, No. 3 urged “Tenants: Know Your Rights” and Vol. II, No. 5 announced a new local “Coalition of Hispanic and Labor Organizations.” Each issue had a “Perspectiva Femenil” (“Female Perspective”) column, and one that translated to “The People United,” addressing topics like labor unity, social welfare, undocumented workers, “Sexism on the Job” and “What Happened to Our 'Leaders'?”
One staff writer, Armandina Saldivar, was particularly known to champion the disadvantaged. She penned a feature on “How The Court System 'Works'” in Vol. I, Issue 8, as well as a later exposé that caused quite a stir. After a raid on a local brothel, Saldivar obtained a copy of madam Theresa Brown's “Trick List” and published some of the names in Vol. II, No. 5. The list included some of the “'high and mighty' of San Antonio, who in the past have constantly accused the Blacks, the Mexicans, the poor and working people of being immoral, corrupt and law breakers.”
EP also ran state, national and international news. Vol. II, No. 3 reported on Manuel Muñoz' case against Kelly Air Force Base; he had been fired, reinstated for a few days then terminated again three times in as many months so as to be a “temporary worker,” ineligible for benefits. There were calls for support of El Salvador and for the United Farm Workers union, as well as coverage of “critical” relations between the United States and Mexico. One issue told of “serious construction problems discovered at the South Texas Nuclear Project,” and there were news briefs from San Jose, California, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. Vol. II, Issue 11 had a great photographic image of San Antonio's “Mexican Cultural National Ballet,” “well received in S.A., in Texas and in Mexico,” as well as a list of local businesses where readers could find the paper and a laid-in flyer for a rally against unfair immigration laws. All of the issues also featured Hispanic-inspired graphic designs and powerful political art.
Rare, compelling coverage of, and for, the Latin American community of San Antonio. OCLC shows three institutions with physical holdings (two in Texas and one in London), and two with microfilm. (Inventory #: 8191)
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