SOURCE: An introduction to Zoot Suit and Other Plays, by Luis Valdez, Arte Publico Press, 1992, pp. 7-20.

Here, Huerta surveys Valdez's career, stressing the playwright's continual questioning of notions of reality and identity.

It is a pleasure to introduce the reader to Zoot Suit, Bandido! and I Don't Have to Show You No Stinking Badges!, as well as to their celebrated creator, Luis Miguel Valdez. These plays have never been published before and are an important addition to the growing corpus of Valdez's writings that have been preserved for future theater artists, students, scholars and the general reader. These three plays represent only a fraction of Valdez's astounding output since he first began writing plays in college.

For some, Luis Valdez needs no introduction; for others, his name may only be associated with his more widely seen films and television programs. No other individual has made as important...