-What is the legacy of the Young Lords party?

The Young Lords was founded by a predominately Puerto Rican group of college students. Inspired by the Black Panther Party and Malcom X, they served as a group to draw notice to social inequality, specifically in East Harlem. They used attention-grabbing strategies, that are more commonly used today, but were not so much back then in order to leave a lasting impact. Their campaigns generated headlines, bringing the Puerto Rican community into the light. Primarily focused on attaining healthier living conditions, the Young Lords seized churches and hospitals and provided free food, clothes, and health services. Although their activity was short-lived, it brought about Puerto Rican pride, along with political and cultural activism.

– Why do they matter for today?

As discussed in class, sometimes the audience of activists is the future. While the progress of Puerto Ricans in New York over the years has been mixed, most of them still living poor lives, the legacy of the Young Lords provides hope for the current generation. The Young Lords Party did not have money or a great amount of media attention, but the passion combined with love for the Latino community drove them to fight for reformation. Individuals today, even Latinos, are unaware of the Young Lords until they reach higher levels of education or will never know of their movement at all. While this lack of knowledge is a challenge towards completely transforming the community for the better, for those who do know, the legacy of the Young Lords provides motivation to fight for change today.

-How does the film frame the answers for those questions?

The film frames the answers to both the legacy of the Young Lords Party and why they matter today. The movie is set in East Harlem, present day. Latino communities are still poverty stricken, violence-oriented, with people, young and old, who are uneducated, struggling to make pay. Most are unaware of the Young Lords party. The protagonist, Milly, encompasses all of these attributes. She and her classmates represent the current-day Latino community. Mateo, acts as the educator in the plot. His first-hand experience with the Young Lords and extensive knowledge allows him to inform the current generation about their movements, with the intention to provide an incentive for these kids to make change and hope for a brighter future. Through these characters, viewers gain a better understanding of what the Young Lords party was and how their actions act as inspiration for Latino youth today.

F.N.