"La Raza" (The Race) is a broad term which refers to those whose ancestry is indigenous to the area of Mexico (or "AZTLAN"). MEChA members refer to themselves as "La Raza" or "Raza," but the term itself is used to indicate camaraderie among those in different organizations with the same objectives. There are a number of organizations who consider themselves to be La Raza.
The most visible of these groups are MEChA, The Brown Berets de AZTLAN, OLA (Organization for the Liberation of AZTLAN), La Raza Unida Party, and the "Nation of AZTLAN" to name a few. Although the activism of these organizations vary from somewhat radical to extremely radical, they share the same objectives, the "liberation of AZTLAN." Each follows the Raza manifesto "El Plan de AZTLAN (sometimes called "El Plan Espiritual de AZTLAN"). The Nation of AZTLAN, tied to La Voz de AZTLAN disseminates the exact same propaganda that MEChA spreads including antisemitic propaganda. Believers in the AZTLAN legend insist upon the indivisibility of "La Raza" and their common goals, one of them being the need to abolish the border between the U.S. and Mexico. There is a myriad of Raza college newspaper. Some are El Popo, AZTLAN News, Chispas, Gente de AZTLAN (UCLA), Voz Fronteriza (U.C. San Diego), La Voz Mestiza (U.C. Irvine) and La Voz Berkeley. It is not uncommon for the writers of these publications to refer to the U.S., as "AmeriKKKa."
Rhetoric by some Chicano educators strongly suggest Communist or Socialist leanings. In May, 2000, more than 1,200 students gathered at UCLA for the seventh annual Raza Youth Conference, which the members say promotes higher education and recognition of the AZTLAN culture. Sponsored by MEChA, the year's theme was "Reclaiming Our Razas through education, resistance, and promoting the idea of remembering the historical struggles of Raza" said Erika Ramirez, co-chair of the conference. The conference drew students from 80 middle and high schools and community colleges; featured speeches by those actively involved with the Chicano community.
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