Victor Jara

Victor Jara was born in Chile in 1932. He grew up poor. His mother was a folk singer and his father was a farmer.

As an adult, Victor studied theater at university. Later, he worked as a stage director.

In 1957, he met a very important singer named Violetta Parra. She was one of the people who began a song movement called nueva canción (new song). This movement included singers and songwriters from Latin America who sang about local culture, events, and values.

Victor Jara started to play and write these songs. He wrote with tender lyrics that showed how much he cared for the people of Chile who were living in very difficult conditions, many of whom were living in poverty: He fought for the people of Chile / With his songs and his guitar / His hands were gentle, his hands were strong.

Victor Jara believed that with the right leadership, the country could improve the lives of the people. He supported a doctor who was running for president, Salvador Allende, who wanted to bring better education, health care, and higher living standards to the poor. Victor wrote a song, Venceremos (We Will Win/Overcome) and campaigned around the country to help Allende get elected. He campaigned for Allende working night and day / He sang, “Take hold of your brother’s hand, the future begins today”.

To read the rest of this article, listen to the song and access a list of vocabulary, see my Substack at https://louisehaynes.substack.com/p/victor-jara-singer-and-fighter-for-the-people