Listen to the Corrido:     
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Pido permiso señores
Para contarles la historia
De unos valientes campesinos
Que de Pájaro a Camphora
Se unieron en comités
Para alcanzar la victoria

Hasta el Valle de Salinas
Mujeres, hombres y niños
Llegaron con la esperanza
De tener un hogar digno
Con el sudor de su frente
Sueñan hacerse camino

¡Viva la comunidad
Que se apoya y que se une!
Y lucha por sus derechos
Porque la dignidad le urge
¡Y qué viva CCA,
Donde sus sueños se cumplen!

Mas algunos contratistas
Los quisieron explotar
Y a aquellos trabajadores
Les forzaron a habitar
En cuevas, trailas y casuchas
Ni aptas para un animal

Por eso un catorce de agosto
Mil novecientos noventa
El centro de abogacía
Con orgullo abre sus puertas
Ahí estaban Lydia y Sabino
Y un Ford Mustang del ochenta

¡Viva la comunidad …

Las familias campesinas
Se empiezan a organizar
Y en comités de vivienda
Aprenden a negociar
Pronto consiguen mejoras
Para la comunidad

En Moro Cojo y Tres Palmas
Se forman cooperativas
Se proponen ordenanzas
En Pinto Lake y Salinas
Con marchas y hasta con huelgas
Han trasformado sus vidas

¡Viva la comunidad …

Con el pasar de los años
El liderazgo ha crecido
Las mujeres participan
Rompen los estereotipos
Con dignidad y respeto
Han derrotado al machismo

Aunque son muchos llamados
Pocos son los escogidos
Promotores de salud,
Y líderes campesinos
Sigan su lucha por siempre
Con respeto me despido

I ask permission dear sirs
To tell you the story
Of some brave farmworkers
Who, from Pajaro to Camphora
Joined up in committees
To achieve victory

Up to the Salinas Valley
Women, men and children
Arrived with the hope of having
A decent home
With the sweat of their foreheads
They dream of making their way

Long live the community
That supports itself and joins forces!
And fights for its rights
Because dignity drives them
And long live CCA,
Where their dreams are fulfilled!

But some subcontractors
Wanted to exploit them
And tried to force
Those same workers to inhabit
Caves, trailers and huts
Unfit for even an animal

That is why on August 14
1990
The Center for Community Advocacy
With pride opened its doors
There they were: Lydia, Sabino
And a ‘80 Ford Mustang

Long live the community…

The farmworker families
Start organizing themselves
And in neighborhood committees
They learn to negotiate
Very soon they achieve
Improvements for the community

At Moro Cojo and Tres Palmas
Co-ops are formed
New housing regulations are proposed
At Pinto Lake and Salinas
With marches and even strikes
They have transformed their lives

Long live the community…

With the passing of time
The leadership has grown
Women participate fully
Breaking stereotypes
With dignity and respect
They have defeated machismo

Even though many are called
Few are the chosen ones
Health promoters
And farmworker leaders
Continue your struggle forever
With respect, I bid farewell

Music & Lyrics ©2006 Juan L. Sánchez      English Translation by Hope Anderson

The corrido is a popular Mexican storytelling ballad, typically in the rhythm of a waltz, that glorifies heroes and great deeds.

Corridos usually include social commentary and were especially popular during the Mexican-American civil rights movement of the 1960s, when they focused on the acts of the movement’s courageous leaders.

The corrido about the Center for Community Advocacy that you hear today was composed by Monterey Bay-area musician, recording artist, educator, and social activist Juan L. Sánchez, who recorded it with members of CSUMB’s Mariachi Ensemble. It was produced by the Music and Performing Arts Department of California State University, Monterey Bay.


Made possible with a grant from the Nathan Cummings Foundation