Let me tell you about Dolores Huerta. Not the sanitized, history-book version of her, but the real, fiery, unapologetic Dolores—the woman who looked at injustice and said, “Not on my watch.”
Dolores was born in 1930 in Dawson, New Mexico, but her story really began in the farmlands of California. Her father was a farmworker and union activist, and her mother was a fierce advocate for equality. From them, Dolores learned two things: the value of hard work and the power of standing up for what’s right.
But here’s the thing about Dolores—she didn’t just stand up for herself. She stood up for everyone. In the 1950s and ’60s, she saw the brutal conditions farmworkers endured: backbreaking labor, poverty wages, and no access to basic rights. And she said, “Enough.”
Alongside Cesar Chavez, Dolores co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW). She wasn’t just a figurehead; she was the backbone of the movement. She organized strikes, negotiated contracts, and fought for better pay and working conditions. And she did it all while raising 11 kids. Let that sink in for a moment.
Dolores wasn’t just a labor leader; she was a strategist, a negotiator, and a force of nature. She coined the phrase “Sí, se puede”—“Yes, we can”—a rallying cry that’s still used today. But here’s the kicker: she didn’t just say it; she lived it.
In 1988, Dolores was brutally beaten by San Francisco police during a peaceful protest. She suffered broken ribs and a ruptured spleen, but even that didn’t stop her. As soon as she recovered, she was back on the front lines, fighting for justice. Because that’s who Dolores Huerta is—a woman who doesn’t back down.
But Dolores’s activism didn’t stop with labor rights. She fought for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigrant rights. She understood that justice isn’t a single-issue fight; it’s a collective struggle. And she dedicated her life to that struggle.
Here’s what I love most about Dolores Huerta: she’s not just a hero; she’s a reminder. A reminder that change doesn’t happen because someone waves a magic wand. It happens because people like Dolores show up, speak out, and refuse to give up.
Dolores once said, “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” And she lived that truth every single day.
So, as we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s remember Dolores Huerta—not as a distant icon, but as a real, fierce, unrelenting woman who taught us to believe in the power of “Sí, se puede.” She’s a hero, a trailblazer, and a testament to what one person can achieve when they refuse to stay silent.
Dolores, thank you for showing us the way.
