August 29th Movement facts for kids

The August 29th Movement (or ATM) was a group of Chicano activists in the United States. It existed from 1974 to 1978. This group believed in ideas related to communism, which is a way of thinking about how society should be organized, focusing on shared ownership and equality.

The ATM started in Los Angeles from a group called the Labor Committee of La Raza Unida Party. It officially formed in May 1974 at a special meeting. The ATM was part of a larger movement called the New Communist Movement. This movement was inspired by the ideas of leaders like Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin, especially their thoughts on how different groups of people (or "nations") should be treated.

What the ATM Believed

In 1975, the ATM published a document called "Fan The Flames: A Revolutionary Position on the Chicano National Question." This document explained their main beliefs.

Chicano National Question

The ATM believed that Chicanos living in the Southwestern United States were treated unfairly. They felt this was because parts of northern Mexico were taken over by the U.S. during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848).

Right to Independence

Because of this history, the ATM thought that Chicanos had a right to be independent or to have more control over their own lives and land. Their main goal was to create a large political party that included many different groups of people who shared their communist ideas.

Publications

The August Twenty-Ninth Movement used different ways to share their ideas. They published a newspaper called Revolutionary Cause. They also had a more serious journal for discussing their theories, which was named The Red Banner.

Working with Others

In New Mexico, the ATM had a local group that joined the Chicano Communications Center. This center was a media organization started by Elizabeth "Betita" Martinez.

Disagreement Over a Book

The ATM group had a disagreement with Elizabeth Martinez about her book, 450 Years of Chicano History. This book was one of the first histories written about Chicanos. The ATM did not agree with how the book talked about the "Chicano National Question." Because of this disagreement, a whole printing of her book was not used.

Merging with Another Group

In 1978, the August Twenty-Ninth Movement joined together with another group called I Wor Kuen. This was a communist organization made up of Asian-American people. When they merged, they formed a new, larger group called the League of Revolutionary Struggle.

See also

In Spanish: Movimiento 29 de Agosto para niños