Alicia Escalante

Alicia Escalante is a Chicano Movement leader and the chair of East Los Angeles Welfare Rights Organization. She is depicted in a mural at the University of Houston called La Marcha Por La Humanidad.

Early years

Escalante was born Alicia Lara in El Paso, Texas in 1933. She was the second oldest of seven children. Escalante's mother eventually left her abusive father. At twelve, Escalante ran away in search of her mother, eventually reuniting with her in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Times were rough for the family, but they survived with the help of welfare. She was cured of a hearing problem by a doctor who donated his services.^[1]

Public activities

In 1967 Escalante formed the Chicana Welfare Rights Organization, an organization dedicated to documenting welfare abuses.

She was one of thirty five arrested in the 1968 Board of Education sit-in in favor of Sal Castro.^[2]

In 1973 Encuentro Femenil pubilished Escalante's essay entitled "A Letter from The Chicana Welfare Rights Organization.^[3] In a subsequent interview, Adelaida DelCastillo, Associate Editor of the journal, cited the publication of the letter as a significant event in the journal's history. She characterized Escalante as being a part of Chicana feminism.^[4] In that same year, she was depicted in a mural at the University of Houston entitled La Marcha Por La Humanidad alongside other Chicano Movement leaders like Corky Gonzales, José Ángel Gutiérrez and Reyes Lopez Tijerina.

In 2009 she was recognized by the National Chicano Moratorium Committee for her work.^[5]

References