The King of Adobe: Reies López Tijerina, Lost Prophet of the Chicano Movement

"The King of Adobe: Reies López Tijerina, Lost Prophet of the Chicano Movement" delves deeply into the tumultuous life and legacy of Reies Lopez Tijerina, a pivotal yet polarizing figure in the civil rights era. Published on September 9, 2019, this biography by Lorena Oropeza paints a comprehensive and unembellished portrait of Tijerina, from his days as a Pentecostal preacher to his radical activism for land rights in New Mexico. Tijerina's 1967 armed courthouse raid brought the struggles of Spanish-speaking locals into the glaring light of national discourse, challenging the historical narrative of U.S. land dispossession from Mexicans and Native Americans. Oropeza’s work, grounded in exhaustive archival research and new interviews, not only explores Tijerina’s influence on the Chicano movement but also addresses his complex persona, marred by controversies from allegations of anti-Semitism to accusations of extremism. Ideal for adult education settings, this book invites readers to critically reflect on themes of indigenous rights and racial justice, offering a lens to reexamine American history and the ongoing fight for equality and self-determination.