Emergence
What both the women’s and Chicano movement leadership do not see and cannot know is the collaborative language occurring in these performative moments. Chicanas operate like schools of fish or flocks of birds moving in synchronized precision. The Chicana Caucus was able to work together as a special interest caucus of the National Women’s Political Caucus for six years of the women’s movement by following the rules of Emergence.
The first rule: they knew they were Chicanas, ready to fight for the social issues facing their men and children, good jobs, decent educations and the ability to continue their work to carry, teach and support Chicano culture in their homes and communities. The second rule, to keep their eyes on one another, following the language of performative action being articulated in any meeting of the dominant (read white woman and chicano male supreme) narrative, to interrupt and therefore include issues specific to Chicanas.
If one Chicana offered the resolution, another called the vote and could because all Chicanas were active members. If one Chicana stormed the stage to make a statement at a meeting or rally where Chicana voices were not being allowed by the dominant (read white woman and chicano male supreme), the others were blocking the path to the microphone until the interruption was completed. The final and most important rule—watching for predators, required infinite vigilance and ultimately would bring the Caucus to its end. The predators in many cases turned out to be their own, often choosing survival as a rationale for betrayals.
