“No revolutions without poets”: The rhetoric of rodolfo “corky” Gonzáles

Rodolfo “Corky”; Gonzáles contributed significantly to the Chicano movement as the author of the most famous Chicano poem, “Yo Soy Joaquín”; a founder of the Crusade for Justice in Denver; a leader of the Chicano political party, La Raza Unida; and an organizer of the first Chicano Youth Liberation Conference. This paper examines Gonzáles’ extensive public address—his poetry, plays, and speeches—in his campaign to improve the lives of Chicanos. Gonzáles’ early life shaped the content of his discourse; and his primary audience, substantive themes, and rhetorical techniques separated him from other Chicano leaders.