By: Valeri Hernandez Godinez, Student Advisory Board Chair and Hispanic/Latinx Affinity Representative
Dolores Huerta is one of the most influential civil rights activists in American history. Born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico, Huerta has spent her life fighting for the rights of farmworkers, women, and marginalized communities, particularly in the realm of voting rights.
Early Life and Activism
Dolores Huerta was raised in Stockton, California, by her mother, Alicia Chavez. Alicia, a strong and independent businesswoman, ran a hotel where she often provided affordable housing for low-wage workers. This sense of compassion and justice shaped Dolores from an early age.
Huerta excelled in school and later attended the University of the Pacific’s Stockton College, where she earned a teaching credential. However, after witnessing the struggles of her students—many of them the children of farmworkers—she realized that education alone wasn’t enough to break the cycle of poverty. She decided to take direct action, dedicating her life to activism.
Fighting for Farmworkers’ Rights
In the 1950s, Huerta co-founded the Community Service Organization (CSO) to help Latino communities fight discrimination, economic hardships, and voter suppression. There, she met César Chávez, and together, they founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) in 1962.
While many recognize Huerta for her leadership in the farmworker movement—where she fought for fair wages, better working conditions, and protections from pesticide exposure—her contributions to voting rights are equally significant.
Championing Voting Rights
Huerta understood that political power was essential for lasting change. She worked tirelessly to ensure that farmworkers and Latinos had access to the ballot box, despite widespread voter suppression.
She led voter registration drives, often going door-to-door in rural communities to help people overcome language barriers, intimidation, and unfair literacy tests. She also pushed for the elimination of poll taxes, which disproportionately affected poor and minority voters.
During the 1960s and 1970s, she played a crucial role in mobilizing Latino voters, helping to elect leaders who would fight for workers’ rights. She worked closely with Robert F. Kennedy, and in 1968, she stood by his side the night he won the California Democratic primary—just moments before he was assassinated.
Huerta also helped advocate for the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which prohibited racial discrimination in voting and empowered more Latino communities to participate in elections.
Women’s Rights and Continued Advocacy
Beyond labor and voting rights, Huerta has been a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She has championed equal pay, reproductive rights, and greater representation for women in politics.
In 1988, while protesting for workers’ rights, she was brutally beaten by San Francisco police, suffering broken ribs and internal injuries. The attack only strengthened her resolve. After recovering, she co-founded the Feminist Majority Foundation and continued empowering women through political engagement.
In 2012, at 82 years old, Dolores Huerta received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, from President Barack Obama.
Legacy and Impact
Dolores Huerta’s influence is immeasurable. Her iconic phrase, “Sí, se puede” (“Yes, we can”), became a rallying cry for social justice movements, even inspiring Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign slogan.
Through her activism, she has helped millions gain the right to vote, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard. Today, the Dolores Huerta Foundation continues her mission, advocating for education, civic engagement, and social justice.
At 94 years old, Huerta remains an unstoppable force, proving that the fight for justice never ends.
Her legacy is a powerful reminder that democracy thrives when everyone has a voice—and a vote.
Learn More About Dolores Huerta:
National Women’s History Museum: Dolores Huerta
Viva La Causa! Dolores Huerta and Hispanic Heritage Month
Dolores Huerta: “Sí, se puede!”
