A Role Model for Latina Leaders, Then, Now, and Tomorrow
By Roberto Leal
The 1954 film, Salt of the Earth, written by Hollywood Blacklisted screenwriter, Michael Wilson, starring Juan Chacón, , Rosaura Revueltas, and Will Geer, which tells the inspiring story of Mexican zinc mine workers in New Mexico, who organize a general strike, eerily mirrors the life of Dolores Huerta. It is the Chicana woman; wives, mothers, daughters, in Salt of the Earth, who organize, mobilize, energize, and create the solidarity that is the driving force behind the miner’s ultimate victory.
This Friday, July 10, at 9 PM CST, PBS and Independent Lens will air Dolores. Her story begins in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, the daughter of coal-mining Mexican immigrants. It was in the crucible of that hard-scrabble, poverty-stricken environment that forged the iron will that is the heart and soul of Dolores Huerta’s remarkable, fiery political activism, labor rights battles, and unwavering support on behalf of feminist causes.
Huerta’s most well-known and notable achievement was being the co-founder, along with Cesar Chavez, of the United Farm Workers Union. What is not so well-known, is it was Huerta who did the lions’ share of the bare-knuckle brawling and nuts and bolt, hard-nosed negotiating behind the scenes, like the women in Salt of the Earth, to make the union a reality. Huerta proved the adage: “Behind Every great Latino leader is an even greater Latina leader.” We could use bold, strong, Latina leaders, in the mold of Dolores Huerta, on our cultural and political ramparts today.
Barbarians at the Gate
There are many political, economic, and cultural issues facing the greater Latinx community that are crying out for powerful Latina leadership.
ICE, at the behest of Trump, and his Minister of the Border Gulags, Stephen Miller, aka The Ghost of Joseph Goebbels Present, are dragging their feet and delaying, for as long as possible, the court-ordered release of those migrant children currently being held in dog cages that would bring tears to the eyes of an SPCA activist.
Miller and ICE are creating a sinister deterrence-based immigration policy based on scaring the hell out of any Latino immigrant from Mexico and Central America, who has the arrogance and temerity to seek asylum, strive for a better life, in what we increasingly refer to with farcical irony as “The Land of the Free” with the horrifying specter of being interminably caged in the American Gulag.
Where is the national outrage? Why aren’t the ask-kissing, enabling Republicans—who support this inhumane, and illegal policy— why aren’t they having their clammy, dainty, well-pedicured feet held to a blast furnace hot, public fire?
Chicanos, Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and other Latin Americans are being killed by the trumpvirus pendejodemic at higher rates than any other ethnic group. There are many reasons for this tragic statistic: working in essential service industries and dangerously close proximity production jobs, living in high density, crowded housing, and other underlying health conditions.
We need a few latter-day Dolores Huertas, on the ramparts, raging against the injustice and using a bullhorn to roar truth to power. There are some good candidates. The mainstream media, which often ignores, or marginalizes Latino public figures, must shine a brighter and more frequent national spotlight on them.
Women of Color of a Different Hue
All the political pundits insist Joe Biden must choose a woman of color to be his VP running mate. I do not necessarily disagree with that assessment. When this presidential campaign first started, my “dream ticket” was Senator Kamala Harris and Julian Castro. Harris appears to be the odds on favorite to be his VP pick. It makes sense. Black women are the base of the Democratic Party.
However, Latina women are the FUTURE of the Democratic Party and the country. Arizona, Texas, and Florida are teetering on the verge of turning Blue, due to the huge Latino populations there.
When that happens—and it will happen—the only way a Republican can ever get into the Oval Office again, will be by taking the White House Tour, conducted by a kid named, Rogelio, who once resided in a dog cage on the Tex-Mex border.
So why not consider a woman of color of a different hue for VP? Why not a Latina? In a recent article in The Hill titled Five Latinas Who Could be Biden’s Running Mate,, the following bright, attractive, accomplished and articulate Latina ladies were named:
- Rep. Veronica Escobar (D), Texas
- Rep. Sylvia García (D), Texas
- Gov. Michelle Luján Grisham (D) New Mexico
- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) Nevada
- Hilda Solis, former Secretary of Labor, Obama Administration
I am adding Judge Lina Hidalgo, Harris County, Texas, as my personal favorite
When we add Puerto Rico as the 51st state, well, all those Trumpistas can trade in their AR-15’s, their camouflage fatigues and MAGA caps for salsa dance lessons, start sprinkling Tajin on their mac ‘n cheese and get addicted to the telenovelas, like the rest of us.
Dolores Huerta is credited with the phrase: Si se puede. That phrase was appropriated by Obama in his run for the president: “Yes, We Can.” When we look back on the inspirational activist career of Dolores Huerta, we can honestly say: ¡ELLA LO HIZO!
Huerta has been honored with Mexican corridos, wall murals and several documentaries. Time to erect a statue of Dolores Huerta, long hair flowing in the wind, bullhorn in hand, roaring truth to power.
Dolores airs Friday, July 10 on PBS Independent Lens, at 9 PM CST.