Organizing the Chicano Movement: The Story of CSO

Humberto Garza presents a unique and thought-provoking point of view on the Civil Rights Movement. The CSO (Community Service Organization) played a significant role as a catalyst for the emergence of the Chicano Civil Rights Movement. Leaders such as César Chávez, Gilbert Padilla, and Dolores Huerta honed their organizing and leadership skills through the CSO. The first CSO, a grass-roots, non-profit organization, was formed in Los Angeles in 1947; within five years there were 43 CSO Chapters throughout California and three in Arizona. The author documents how the CSO created other community leaders, such as Tony Ríos, Congressman Ed Roybal, Humberto "Bert" Corona, Judge Cruz Reynoza, Herman Gallegos, and numerous others. A few years later, these same individuals created national organizations such as The National Council of La Raza, The Southwest Voters Registration and Education Program (SVREP), the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and the United Farm Workers union (UFW). The terms “La Causa” and “La Huelga” are inextricably associated with the Chicano Civil Rights Movement.