Dolores Huerta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dolores Huerta
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Huerta in 2024
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Dolores Clara Fernández
April 10, 1930 Dawson, New Mexico, U.S.
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| Education | San Joaquin Delta College |
| Known for | Co-Founder of the National Farmworkers Association Delano grape strike Sí, se puede |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Ralph Head (divorced) Ventura Huerta (divorced) |
| Partner(s) | Richard Chavez (deceased) |
| Children | 11 |
| Parent(s) | Juan Fernández (father) |
Dolores Huerta (born April 10, 1930) is an American leader and activist. She has spent her life fighting for better rights for farmworkers and women. She helped create the United Farm Workers (UFW) union. She also helped organize the famous Delano grape strike in 1965. Many people say she created the well-known UFW saying, "sí se puede" which means 'yes you can'.
Huerta has worked to help Latina women become more involved in politics. She has also supported women's health rights. In 2017, she was an honorary co-chair of the 2017 Women's March in Washington, D.C.. In 2002, she started the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). This group helps people get involved in their communities. She has received many awards for her work. These include the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012. California and Oregon now celebrate April 10 as "Dolores Huerta Day."
Contents
Her Early Life and Inspiration
Dolores Huerta was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. This was a mining town. She was the second child and only daughter of Juan Fernández and Alicia Chávez. Her father worked as a coal miner. He later became a migrant worker, harvesting crops in different states. He also served in the New Mexico Legislature.
Dolores's parents divorced when she was three. Her mother, Alicia Chávez, raised Dolores and her two brothers. Alicia was known for her kindness. She was active in her community and church. She owned a restaurant and a hotel. She offered affordable or free housing to low-wage workers. Dolores was inspired by her mother's generosity. She learned about helping others from her. Dolores said her mother was "a very intelligent woman and a very gentle woman." This made Dolores think about civil rights.
Dolores's community work started when she was a student. She attended Stockton High School. She was active in many school clubs. She was also a majorette and a Girl Scout. She continued being a Girl Scout until she was 18.
Dolores felt that a teacher treated her unfairly because she was Hispanic. This made her believe that society needed to change. She went to college at the University of the Pacific's Stockton College. This college later became San Joaquin Delta Community College. There, she earned a teaching credential.
Fighting for Farmworkers' Rights
Starting the Union
In 1958, Dolores Huerta helped start the Agricultural Workers' Association (AWA). In 1962, she co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). She started it with Cesar Chavez and Gilbert Padilla. She worked hard for the NFWA. Her jobs included making calls and collecting union dues. She also visited worker camps.
In April 1965, she helped the NFWA organize a strike. This strike was for rose workers. The companies agreed to raise wages after three days.
The Great Grape Strike
On September 8, 1965, another union started a strike. This was at nine vineyards in Delano. Larry Itliong asked Cesar Chavez for support. The NFWA joined the strike on September 20.
Dolores Huerta helped organize boycotts. She led efforts in New York and New Jersey. She encouraged people to stop buying California grapes. She worked with churches, unions, and student groups. They picketed grocery stores. Soon, many stores stopped selling grapes. Dolores also spoke publicly about the strike. She became known for her strong speeches.
On August 19, 1965, the two unions joined together. They formed the United Farm Workers (UFW). Dolores Huerta became a vice president. She was also a main negotiator for the union. In 1966, she helped get good contracts for workers. The strike ended on July 29, 1970. Dolores helped get contracts that raised workers' wages. They also added safety rules for pesticides. A health fund was created, and the union helped with hiring.
Later Work with the Union
In the 1970s, Dolores Huerta helped organize more boycotts. These were for lettuce, wine, and table grapes. She also had four children with Richard Chavez, Cesar's brother. She worked to organize workers in California's Central Valley. In 1975, she helped pass the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA). This law gave farmworkers the right to bargain for their rights.
In the 1980s, Dolores helped start a UFW radio station. She also raised money and gave speeches. She spoke to Congress about farmworkers' benefits and health. In 1988, she was hurt by a police officer at a protest. She had broken ribs and a ruptured spleen. She received money for her injuries. This event also led to changes in police rules.
After this, Dolores took a break from the UFW. She returned after Cesar Chavez passed away in 1993. She supported strawberry workers and spoke at colleges. In 1999, she left her vice president role. She wanted to work on other social causes.
Standing Up for Women
Dolores Huerta was influenced by the women's rights movement. In 1976, she called herself a feminist. She said the women's movement helped her feel less guilty about her divorces. In 1985, she called herself a "born-again feminist."
After her injury in 1988, she worked with the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF). This group supports women's equality. She encouraged Latina women to run for political office. This helped increase their presence in politics. She continued this work after leaving the UFW in 1999.
In 2014, Dolores traveled to Colorado. She campaigned against a law that would have changed state definitions. The law was defeated. In 2017, she was an honorary co-chair of the 2017 Women's March in Washington, D.C.. This march protested against possible setbacks in women's rights. Over 4.1 million people attended the march.
The Dolores Huerta Foundation
Dolores Huerta is the president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). This organization is based in Bakersfield. She started it in 2002. She used a $100,000 award to begin the foundation. Dolores says the DHF continues the non-violent civil rights movement. Its goal is to help people get involved in their communities. Her youngest daughter, Camila Chavez, is the executive director.
The DHF creates "Vecinos Unidos" groups. This means 'United Neighbors'. These groups teach local people how to work together. They learn how to talk with government officials. They also learn how to improve their communities. By 2016, these groups were in many rural California towns. These groups have helped raise "millions of dollars" for roads, sidewalks, and other projects.
In 2016, the DHF was part of a lawsuit. It was against the Kern High School District. The lawsuit said that Black and Latino students were unfairly disciplined. The district agreed to changes. The DHF and other groups now monitor the district. This ensures fair practices.
Her Political Views
Supporting Democrats
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Dolores Huerta is an honorary co-chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. In 1968, she supported Robert F. Kennedy for president. She was at his victory speech when he was assassinated. She called his death "the death of our future." She has also supported other Democratic politicians. These include George McGovern, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Joe Biden.
During the 2016 Democratic primary, she supported Hillary Clinton. She appeared in an ad for Clinton's campaign. She also tweeted about an incident at a caucus. She said some people chanted "English only!" when she offered to translate. This tweet caused some debate.
In the 2020 Democratic primary, she first supported Kamala Harris. She later endorsed Joe Biden for president.
Standing for LGBTQ+ Rights
The UFW supported LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and 70s. Dolores spoke against discrimination based on sexual orientation. In a 2006 speech, she supported same-sex marriage. She said, "respecting other people’s rights is peace."
In 2005, Dolores campaigned for a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in California. The bill passed but was vetoed. She also spoke at a pride celebration in 2021. She said that hateful words against LGBTQ people can lead to violence. In 2024, the Dolores Huerta Foundation supported California Proposition 3. This proposition removed old language about marriage. It affirmed marriage as a "fundamental right." The proposition passed.
Views on Immigration
Dolores Huerta is seen as "pro-immigrant." In 1994, she campaigned against California Proposition 187. This law would have denied healthcare and education to undocumented immigrants. She said the law was based on "racial anxiety." She also criticized the end of the DACA policy in 2017. She called it "a step above slavery." In 2018, she protested against the family separation policy. She later supported a "comprehensive immigration reform plan" under President Biden.
Some people have criticized Dolores Huerta and the UFW. They say the union harmed undocumented workers. In 1963, she helped end the Bracero Program. This program brought guest farmworkers to the U.S. Critics say that after the program ended, the union reported undocumented workers to immigration services. They said these workers were strikebreakers.
Awards and Special Honors
In 1984, the California State Senate named Dolores Huerta "Outstanding Labor Leader." She received the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 1988. In 1993, she received several awards. She was also the first Latina to be inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame that year. Ms. magazine named her "Woman of the Year" in 1998. Ladies' Home Journal listed her as one of the "100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century."
In 2000, she received the Hispanic Heritage Award. She won the $100,000 Puffin/Nation Prize in 2002. In 2012, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest civilian award given by the president of the United States.
In July 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill. It made April 10 "Dolores Huerta Day" in California. Oregon also made April 10 Dolores Huerta Day in 2019. In 2020, she received the Ripple of Hope Award.
Dolores Huerta has received honorary degrees from several universities. These include Princeton University and the University of Southern California. Many schools are named after her. These include elementary and middle schools. A street intersection in Los Angeles is named Dolores Huerta Square. A part of State Highway 183 in Texas is also named in her honor. Even an asteroid, 6849 Doloreshuerta, is named after her!
See also
In Spanish: Dolores Huerta para niños
