La Cucaracha: his involvement and influence
Focused on telling the stories that much of the mainstream media ignored-particularly the stories involving minority groups' oppression, repression, and conflict-La Cucaracha became a local rallying point for those that ostracized by the majority groups around them. Outside of just telling news stories, the workers at La Cucaracha often opened their homes and communities to the children of those who could not afford to pay someone to watch them during the day. Mr. Trujillo stated that they were never out to make a profit, but rather to establish themselves as a safe and secure area for the chicano community that they could gather behind and feel supported within.
With his background in printing and lithography, he was one of the two original paid members of the staff of La Cucaracha, and was involved in the formatting of the print as well as uncovering stories.
One of the benefits of the paper was that they ran stories in Spanish, which created a niche group of readers. It also expanded the ability for the chicanos in the area-especially those who only spoke Spanish-to have an awareness of public issues and events.
Juan Trujillo's work on the La Cucaracha newspaper was extremely important to the Chicano movement in the upholding of their native culture in what Mr. Trujillo considered a resistance of American assimilation and appropriation of culture.
