American Masters

- [Narrator] Ladies and gentlemen, it has come to my attention that some of you don't know the story of Luis Valdez.

(dramatic music) - [Interviewee 1] Luis Valdez is the Shakespeare of Chicano theater.

- He's a director, writer, but I think of him as a brujo, a witch man.

(dramatic music) - Luis Valdez could be described as a social arsonist, getting people motivated and getting them to light up.

- Chicano power!

Chicano power!

- My parents were farm workers.

Being on the road, being virtually homeless, I felt this hole opening up in my chest.

It could have destroyed me.

It became the hungry mouth of my creativity.

- This was heavy political theater told with a sense of humor.

- $15,000 for a mere Mexican?

- [Interviewee 2] Luis Valdez attracted a whole new audience with "Zoot Suit."

- [Interviewee 3] It was a statement about belonging.

- You know, it's New York.

My God, it's a Broadway opening.

- Out of the nine major newspapers, we were bombed in eight of them.

- Drama critics in New York tell the American public who is admittable and who is not.

They didn't understand the Chicano experience at all.

I was back home in California, and I was going to restructure my life.

- When Luis turned in his first draft of "La Bamba!"

Whoo, boom.

- [Reporter] "La Bamba!"

mania has hit the south land.

- Never happened to a Chicano on this level before.

- Tears.

- Still is the most successful Latino film ever made.

(upbeat dramatic music) - [Interviewee 3] We have been here and we have contributed.

What we don't have is enough people telling those stories that reaffirm our humanity and reaffirm our presence in America.

(upbeat dramatic music) - There's never been anybody like him ever.

(upbeat dramatic music)