In the context of the Xicano national liberation movement and the ideology of Aztlán, the Raza Unida Party (RUP) was a political party founded in 1970 in Crystal City, Texas. It emerged in response to systemic discrimination and the political disenfranchisement of Mexican Americans. The RUP aimed to achieve self-determination for the Xicano community through political representation, education reform, and economic justice. It sought to build a unified front advocating for the rights and interests of Xicano/as, emphasizing cultural pride and grassroots activism to challenge and dismantle colonial structures within the United States.