BARRIO RISING

A blossoming young activist joins her neighbors in the fight to build Chicano Park in Águila and Mora’s celebratory tribute to San Diego’s Chicane community.

On her way to the tiendita with her Mami, Elena walks through the streets of Barrio Logan, her home neighborhood by the bay. The impacts of industrialization on Barrio Logan are evident throughout their journey: pollution from a diesel truck, the colossal frame of the Coronado Bridge, and the “roar of cars racing on the freeways.” Under the bridge, bulldozers sit, a promise of a park within reach. But soon, news of the city’s intent to build a police station instead of a park in the Chicane neighborhood spurs Elena and her community to action. Charged with soft purples, vivid greens, and bold reds, Mora’s lush digitally colored charcoal and watercolor artwork dreamily elevates this tale of social achievement, depicting pivotal scenes like a series of interconnected murals. Águila’s sharp, evocative text touches upon crucial moments: the community’s peaceful takeover of the disputed site, clashes with the police and city officials, and the arrival of allies in neighboring communities and across the state. A brief appended historical overview of Chicano Park provides much-needed context on Barrio Logan, celebrates key figures of the movement, and draws a line from those 12 days of protest in 1970 to the park’s current status as a cultural hub.

A marvelous testament to barrio-based might.