Social Movements, Internal Colonialism, and Cultural Nationalism

Internal colonialism is a concept where certain populations exist as colonized peoples within the colonizer's territory.
The theory originated in Latin America in the 1950s and is part of a larger Marxist critique of development ideologies.
It addresses the racial effects of poverty and the isolation of indigenous communities.
The theory critiques assimilationist pressures and highlights parallels between Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, Native Americans, African Americans, and Asian Americans in the U.S. during the 1960s.
It's a political philosophy that guided groups like the Young Lords and the Chicanos.

Racism is the basis of social stratification.
Groups like the Young Lords and Chicanos produced literature outlining their core principles, such as the "Plan de Aztlan" for the Chicanos.

Like the Black Panthers, the Young Lords were organized in paramilitary organizations.
Self-determination and liberation of the island (Puerto Rico) were central to their platform.
They sought self-determination for all Latinos, understanding shared experiences of colonialism and oppression by "American" (with three Ks to emphasize racial dynamics) business.
They aimed for the liberation of all Third World people, a term used to describe shared oppression. They wanted community control of their institutions.
They sought control over their land, opposing corporations like United Fruit.
They were aware of the Vietnam War context, noting the disproportionate representation of people of color among soldiers.
They advocated for the freedom of political prisoners who had been imprisoned for advocating for Puerto Rican independence.

Freedom and liberation were central. They demanded freedom for all political prisoners, some of whom were imprisoned for acts of militancy pushing for Puerto Rican independence.
Equality for women was a contentious issue. The original platform included the statement that "machismo must be revolutionary, not oppressive."
Women in the Young Lords party challenged this, viewing machismo as regressive and oppressive. They successfully advocated for the removal of machismo from the platform to ensure there was complete equality for women.
The revised platform condemned machismo and male chauvinism, reflecting a shift toward gender equality within the party.
The Young Lords fought against oppression with internal unity, rejecting the label of communist.
Later, they adopted a stance that armed self-defense and armed struggle were the only means to liberation, a view that later became controversial.