Origins of Punk
Punk came about in the mid to late 1970's in direct contrast to the excess the youth of that time felt defined previous generations both musically and culturally. Punk was an aggressive outlet for urban youth to express their discontent with political issues, capitalism, and society in general. These cultural practices first gained traction in the white urban and suburban areas of London, New York City, and Los Angeles. These scenes were concerned with white politics, and the search for an identity amid rapidly changing socio-economic and cultural landscapes of the time.
Chicanos in Los Angeles
The term "Chicano" came about in the 1960's to describe a person who is Mexican-American.The term was adopted by activists to signify self determination, anit-assimilationist attitudes, indigenous racial heritage, and socioeconomic community empowerment. The term came to be used as a symbol of pride for Mexican-Americans who were struggling to find an identity during this time period. The Chicano Movement of this time was defined by Mexican-Americans resisting to conform to and assimilate with Anglo American culture in order to conserve their unique Mexican heritage.
Progression of Chicano Punk in LA
The Chicano Punk Scene in LA was in large part a result of the Chicano Movement that had been happening since the civil rights movement. Maintaining the same themes as the Chicano Movement, the Chicano Punk scene sought to differentiate itself from the Anglo scenes of London, New York City, and Hollywood. The Scene was about the Chicano youth finding their identity amongst the often volatile culture of growing up in East Los Angeles. The Chicano youth of LA adopted Punk as a form of expression to provide a sense of optimism through the aggressive and anti-establishment lens of Punk Rock.
