José “Cha Cha” Jiménez, a significant figure in civil rights and liberation movements, passed away at the age of 76. His sister, Daisy Rodríguez, announced his death in a Facebook post detailing that he died on a Friday morning, though the cause of death remains undisclosed.
In the 1960s, Jiménez established the Young Lords, which initially began as a street gang in response to the discrimination faced by the Puerto Rican community in Lincoln Park, one of Chicago’s disadvantaged neighborhoods at that time. By 1968, the organization transitioned into a human rights group, drawing inspiration from the Black Panther Party, as noted in the archives of the Library of Congress.
Jiménez’s family shared on social media that he became an essential figure in civil rights and liberation movements, leaving behind a legacy characterized by a revolutionary spirit and a commitment to justice and the self-determination of Puerto Ricans. The Young Lords addressed issues such as institutional racism and police violence while advocating for accessible healthcare, housing, and education. They also implemented community programs, providing breakfast, education, healthcare, and resources for community organizing.@br>
An obituary from Pietryka Funeral Home indicates that Jiménez’s understanding and passionate activism inspired many young people to join the Young Lords. The Chicago chapter became the national headquarters, leading to the formation of other chapters in locations such as New York, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee.
In 1969, he collaborated with Fred Hampton from the Black Panther Party and William “Preacherman” Fesperman of the Young Patriots Organization to establish the Rainbow Coalition. This multiracial movement united Black, Latino, and impoverished white citizens from Appalachia, profoundly influencing the political dynamics of the Midwest.
The PBS documentary titled “The First Rainbow Coalition” illustrates how the alliance included Puerto Rican radicals alongside white Southerners carrying Confederate flags, all working to address issues of poverty and discrimination. This unexpected coalition alarmed some quarters of society, particularly law enforcement and the FBI, who feared it could disrupt the established social order.
Filmmaker Ray Santisteban expressed gratitude towards Jiménez, stating that his involvement was instrumental in the documentary’s creation. “From our first meeting in 1992 to our last encounter, his unwavering focus was on uplifting the Puerto Rican community and advocating for all marginalized populations globally,” Santisteban remarked on Facebook.
Born on August 8, 1940, in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Jiménez later moved to Chicago’s North Side, specifically to La Clark, one of the city’s earliest Puerto Rican neighborhoods. He sought to transform his aspirations for change into political influence. In 1974, he made headlines as the first Latino to announce his candidacy for alderman in Chicago, opposing gentrification and advocating for Latino representation.
His candidacy was pivotal in reshaping the political landscape of the city by affirming Puerto Rican and Latino power. In 1983, Jiménez played a crucial role in forming the first Latino coalition that supported Harold Washington’s election as Chicago’s first Black mayor.
Following the decline of Young Lords’ activities in the late 1970s, Jiménez dedicated himself to preserving their history. In 1995, he partnered with DePaul University’s Latino Research Center to launch the Lincoln Park Project, a significant oral history archive dedicated to the Young Lords.
In recognition of his contributions, Jiménez was awarded the Public Intellectual Award in 2023 by DePaul’s Center for Latino Research, and a historical marker was placed on the campus in 2024 to honor the impact of the Young Lords in Chicago.
A public funeral service for Jiménez is scheduled for Thursday in Chicago. He is survived by five children and three sisters.
