El Malcriado

El Malcriado was a primarily biweekly newspaper. After 1965, El Malcriado began to publish more copies in English than in Spanish (as much as 8,000 English copies and 3,000 Spanish copies) and continued to target an audience of English-speaking Mexican-American farmworkers raised in the United States. The newspaper's readership peaked at 18,000 subscribers. == History ==

Origin As early as 1962, César Chávez and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) discussed creating a newspaper. Chávez believed a publication was essential to politically organize uneducated farmworkers and provide a unifying voice for the movement. To protect the NFWA from legal challenges, El Malcriado was published by a separate entity under the name "Farm Worker Press". The title El Malcriado translates roughly to "the ill-bred one," "the brat," or "troublemaker" and was inspired by a newspaper from the Mexican Revolution, symbolizing the rebellious spirit of the farmworker movement. 1964–1965: Early period In 1964, Chavez hired Andy Zermeño as the first staff member of El Malcriado, putting him in charge of graphics and illustrations, and later hired Bill Esher as the first editor. Although the newspaper officially became a separate entity from the NFWA after Esher arrived as editor, El Malcriado still remained politically in line with the union's goals. Chavez eventually hired Doug Adair, a young political activist, in 1965 to be in charge of the paper's English edition. El Malcriado helped spread news and boost morale for protesting farmworkers during the Delano Grape Strike. 1966–1967: Rift between Chavez and newspaper staff Between 1966 and 1967, the paper's main audience expanded from farmworkers to a broader coalition of sympathizers in cities from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. == Content and themes ==

El Malcriado's Role in the Chicano/a Movement El Malcriado was more than just a publication for Cesar Chavez's UFW, it was also a platform for key figures like Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the UFW. Huerta's leadership, especially in the 1965 Delano Grape Strike, was prominently featured in the paper, highlighting her critical role in organizing and advocating for farmworkers' rights. The paper also connected the labor movement to broader Chicano/a struggles, reflecting solidarity with figures like Reies López Tijerina and Rodolfo "Corky" González, who pushed for land rights and cultural recognition. It aligned with the larger Civil Rights Movement, as well as the anti-Vietnam War movement, drawing parallels between the oppression of farmworkers and global struggles for justice. By amplifying voices like Huerta's and linking the farmworker struggle to wider civil rights causes, El Malcriado solidified its role in both labor and political movements of the Chicano/a era. Journalism The paper was instrumental in exposing corruption and advocating for workers' rights. For example, it reported on the practices of a corrupt labor contractor, Jimmy Hronis, who was forced to pay back wages to underpaid workers after El Malcriado exposed him. The paper also frequently criticized employers for exploiting farmworkers and published stories highlighting the need for farmworker rights. Zermeño cartoons El Malcriado used cartoons and graphics to visually communicate ideas to its audience, since not all farmworkers were literate. Zermeño and Chavez were responsible for the newspaper's iconic cartoon characters: Don Sotaco, Don Coyote, and El Patron or Patroncito. Don Sotaco represented the common Mexican-American farmworker without class consciousness. The Don Sotaco cartoons informed the newspaper's audience on issues affecting Mexican-American laborers and helped raise a sense of class consciousness. Chavez and Zermeño hoped the newspaper's readership would identify with the character of Don Sotaco, and this would help educate farmworkers about their rights. Connections to other political movements El Malcriado often displayed solidarity with other social justice causes and connected the farmworkers' movement to the larger Civil Rights Movement. After the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., El Malcriado dedicated the entire April 15, 1968 edition to his legacy, highlighting his efforts in fighting for workers rights. El Malcriado also connected the struggles of migrant Mexican workers to the legacy of Mexican Revolution. == Legacy ==

An online archive of El Malcriado is available via the Farmworker Documentation Project at University of California, San Diego. In March 2026, The New York Times published an investigation alleging that Chávez had sexually abused multiple women over decades, including minors; UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta, whose organizing work had been prominently featured in El Malcriado, was among those who came forward. The revelations prompted scholars and activists to call for greater recognition of the many other individuals who contributed to the farmworker movement, several of whom, including Huerta, had used El Malcriado as a platform. == References ==