On this date we celebrate the long and wonderful history of Dolores Huerta the Co-Founder of the UFW. The famous United Farmworkers Union. And as we all now know she is the one who popularized the phrase SI SE PUEDE.
At 92 she is more active and more driven than most of us. I wonder where she gets her energy and how she keeps so many facts and causes within her head and heart
In the 60’s and 70’s some in the Union, Chicano Movement and elected officials were sometimes critical of her and her approach, tactics and called her abrasive and a pain in the you know where.
But take a moment to analyze the treatment of women in General and in Human Rights Movements. Yes, they were discriminated against, held to a higher standard than men and often not included in strategic plans of many groups. And because she is stubborn, most strong and determined Dolores was not only able to survive but to flourish
I too was a bit taken back when I first met Dolores and to find that she would have 11 children and work so hard to save the lives of so many farm workers and others.
Dolores over the years has been what some might call a Flaming Feminist, an environmentalist, Abolitionist of the Death Penalty, Abortion Rights advocate, a voice for the LBGBTQ community, a Human Rights legend who knows how to use her power.
Actually, Dolores is one of our Superheroes who while she may not wear a cape or fly through the skies. She is responsible for saving many lives and is a champion for protecting Mother Earth and all her creatures.
As of today, The Dolores Huerta Foundation is a wonderful organization that is building a great organizing structure on top of the work that Dolores started so many years ago. The foundation is educating and training community members in the San Joaquin Valley of California. They build the vision of hope and struggle that allows many to organize voters but also to consider running for office and being elected. This multicultural organization is a monument to nonviolence and freedom
We must all find a way to support this wonderful foundation that is directed by Camila Chavez, who is the youngest of Dolores’ 11 Children. Camila is becoming a powerhouse in her own right. As this foundation grows so will our human rights protections be increased, and we will also become more powerful.
Every day Dolores is asked to attend in person, or in zoom events to support many causes and still surprises us all by the passion she carries with her to every meeting.
And she always asks the audience
Who has the Power?
And they respond
We have the Power
And she calls out again
What Kind of power?
And they shout back
¡¡¡People power!!!
Yes, we have the power, and we should use it on behalf of all those oppressed. And this would be a great gift we could give to Dolores on her birthday.
