“We fought against this idea of revolutionary machismo because we said, ‘What is revolutionary racism?’” Morales said.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, 2009, the Young Lords Party will have its 40th reunion at the First Spanish Methodist Church in New York City. This article first appeared in Spanish in El Diaro/La Prensa.

Connie Cruz had been told what to do all her life-by her parents, then her husband. That changed in December of 1969.

Then, a group of young Puerto Rican activists were appealing to a church in El Barrio (East Harlem) for space to house a breakfast program for the poor. The First Spanish Methodist Church had denied their request. Its minister saw the youths as leftist rabble-rousers.

But the group-the Young Lords Party-remained undeterred. They planned to put in another request during the church's testimonials.

"My brother-in-law Mickey came to visit," Cruz said. "He explained the reasons for them being there [at the church]-to ask for the community to give up space for a children's breakfast program. I felt that was a very good cause to become involved in."

But her willingness to act was not encouraged. "My brother-in-law at that time said this is for men, not for women," she said. "That stirred something in me."

She put her timidity to the side and insisted on going to the church. Her brother-in-law, she said, then asked her what she would do about her 5-year-old daughter. "Well, I'm bringing her with me," Cruz responded.

Cruz and the Young Lords took over the church and fed poor, hungry children for almost two weeks until the police rushed in. That was one of many actions the group would take.

At 25, Cruz became an older member-most of the Lords at the time were in their late teens or early 20's. But whatever their age, they all had a commitment to challenging the status quo for Puerto Ricans in New York and beyond. The conditions, they believed, required it.

Then, the Puerto Rican community lacked the extent of leadership, organizations and clout that exists today. The city outright neglected neighborhoods like the Lower East Side, East Harlem and the South Bronx, all heavily concentrated with Puerto Ricans. Deplorable housing conditions, police brutality and racial and ethnic discrimination in services were the order of the day. Bilingual education was not mandated in schools. And even basic health services, like tuberculosis testing, were inaccessible.

Across the country, young people were taking to the streets to protest the U.S. war in Vietnam. And throughout the world, liberation struggles against colonialism were inspiring movements for justice and equality.

It was in that context that the Young Lords Party emerged in the summer of 1969.

Initially, the group served as the northeast branch of a gang-turned-political group from Chicago. In New York, the Lords, wearing purple berets, quickly landed on the front pages of major newspapers with their takeovers and face-offs with the police. But on a day-to-day basis, the Lords engaged in community organizing to demonstrate that everyday individuals could stand up to abusive landlords or police officers or a neglectful government.

"Every action we took was for a purpose that would move our community to the next level," said former Lord Gloria Rodriguez.

Much is documented about the group's actions but little on how women shaped the party.

For Cruz, her experience with the Young Lords Party helped her assert herself. When she got divorced, she demanded that her ex-husband take equal part in the caring of their children. And she insisted on an equal partnership in her next marriage.

Iris Morales, another former Young Lord, explained the weight of Cruz's actions at a time when strict cultural definitions of women were ingrained. "These were very revolutionary acts-to stand up to a man and say I am going to be involved."

Those revolutionary acts came with hard knocks.

The Young Lords were governed by an all-male central committee. Its 13-point platform advocated for "revolutionary machismo."

The women began to caucus out of the group's El Barrio office. They talked about personal experiences and studied Puerto Rican women in history, from workers' advocate Luisa Capetillo to nationalist Blanca Canales. The line on revolutionary machismo became a focus of discussion-and sharp criticism.

"We fought against this idea of revolutionary machismo because we said, 'What is revolutionary racism?'" Morales said.