Looking Back At Chicano Magazines Throughout History
Long before the internet, Chicanos expressed themselves and communicated with each other through print.
From the Chicano Civil Rights Movement to the explosion of boulevard cruising, the 1960s-1990s were arguably the golden age of Chicano culture.
During this time, dozens of Chicano-centric magazines were launched, creating a way for Chicanos to celebrate what would become a distinct and influential sub-culture of Mexican American culture.
Below are a list of some of the most popular classic magazines throughout history.
Con Safos Magazine
Con Safos was founded in East Los Angeles during the late sixties as a way to cover the Chicano movement. It was not only a literary journal, but covered news and events from within the Chicano community.
Corazon De Aztlán
Corazon de Aztlán was a Chicano journal/magazine published in Los Angeles that printed Chicano art and literature. In addition, it also featured various contests and was known for being active in the local community.
Mi Vida Loca Magazine
Mi Vida Loca Magazine was a San Francisco-based magazine that printed art, writings, photos, and interviews with different barrios across California with the goal of creating unity. In many ways, it became the northern equivalent to the better known Teen Angels.
Vajito Magazine
Vajito Magazine was a Texas-based magazine created in 1981in response to Lowrider Magazine, which was based on the West Coast. The magazine covered lowrider culture and news from in and around the Chicano community.
Q-Vo Magazine
Q-Vo Magazine was founded in 1979 to spotlight Chicano culture. The magazine featured interviews, lowrider news, and updates from around the Chicano community.
Subculture Magazine
Subculture Magazine was a bi-monthly magazine dedicated to Latino culture, music, and lifestyle. Think Rolling Stone with an L.A. twist during a time when giant backyard house parties and cruising dominated the night scene.
Teen Angels
Teen Angels is perhaps the most iconic magazine on this list. The magazine ran for years and was widely distributed across the west, featuring art and letters from various barrios, as well as from people serving time behind bars.
Street Low
Street Low was one of a number of magazines that tried to challenge Lowrider over the years. Yet despite a respectable run, it never quite managed to achieve the same prominence or staying power. It did, however, still produce a few classic issues.
La Raza
Blending photojournalism with social activism, art, satire, and political commentary, the groundbreaking bilingual newspaper La Raza—in publication from 1967 to 1977—amplified the voice of the Chicano rights movement during a turbulent era.
Chicano Times
From 1970 to 1977, The Chicano Times was published in San Antonio, highlighting Mexican American issues, events, and community life. It later merged with other publications, continuing to chronicle the history and social challenges faced by the Mexican American community in the region.
Street Beat
Street Beat Magazine was a grassroots publication dedicated to capturing the pulse of urban life, particularly through the lens of youth culture, music, street art, and social justice. Emerging from a need to document and amplify underrepresented voices, Street Beat served as a platform for local artists, activists, and communities to share their stories, struggles, and creative expressions.
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