Matt Altstiel
11/2/05
Chicano Lit.
The Wanderings of A
The mostly auto-biographical novel, Revolt of the Cockroach People serves it’s a purpose as not only a highly entertaining piece of literature, but also as a sort of primer for those unknowledgeable about the brown power movement. The reader is thrown immediately into the chaos of a Christmas time protest and left confused. Acosta then brings the reader back to his beginnings with the brown power movement, then continues up to and past the Christmas time demonstration. Short asides break the action to alert the reader about central tenants of the brown power movement and how organizers sought to mobilize the population. The story of Buffalo Zeta Brown is one of cultural reclamation, community empowerment, and the enduring power of social justice. The excerpts containing closing arguments, speeches and opinions of Brown offer clear cut reasons to support Chicano power because the issues are pertinent to all people.
Unlike most protagonists featured thus far in the course, Brown represents the ultimate anti-hero. Although constantly engaging in disreputable behavior and befriending what are typically considered unsavory elements of society, the reader cannot help sympathize and be drawn to Brown. The depiction of social behavior makes Brown much more human, complex and believable then a typical Robin Hood style character. The style of writing also creates vivid images to let the reader become part of the experience of social activism of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The bold, concise style Acosta employs presents people and movements how they are in reality: complex and sometimes morally ambiguous. Brown embodies much more than himself; he embodies the Brown Power Movement. Themes of cultural confusion, place within society and what constitutes the Chicano itself frequent assert themselves. In the Revolt of the Cockroach people, Acosta creates a thoroughly engaging, informative and historically relevant piece of literature.
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