REVIEW: Cedillo and Huerta shine in Film and Speaker Series

Dolores Huerta is one of the most iconic activists you have probably never heard of. Her life has been dedicated to bettering the lives of those around her. As a labor leader and activist, she helped many people in and out of her community. She worked alongside Cesar Chavez in the 1960s to co-found the United Farm Workers, originally known as the National Farmers Association. Her activism gained the attention of Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy and, at 87 years old, she is still a prominent figure in the women’s rights movement. Yet, her name is almost completely written out of history.

UHCL showcased her life accomplishments by screening the documentary “Dolores” Feb. 3 as part of the Student Life office’s Film and Speaker series. The speaker portion of the event was led by Christina Cedillo, assistant professor of writing and rhetoric.

Cedillo delivered a passionate speech about the accomplishments of a woman she greatly admired. Her passion resonates from a place of gratitude, as she is a descendant from the farm workers Huerta sought to protect.

“A lot of the stories I heard growing up revolved around [my family’s] experiences when they sought work up north; some were funny, some sad, some frightening,” Cedillo said.

The documentary was eye-opening; many in the audience, like myself, had never heard of Dolores Huerta, which is a shame. Her accomplishments and impact match the level of many famous historic activists, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony and even Cesar Chavez.

“Dolores” featured Huerta’s effort co-creating the United Farm Workers union, the first union for farm workers, where she was often overlooked in the media in favor of her partner Cesar Chavez. Although equal in their partnership and dedication for the cause, people did not believe that Huerta belonged in the front lines.

In fact, the documentary featured many flashbacks of Huerta being judged not only by the public, but also by her colleagues, because her 11 children were fathered by three different men, some out of wedlock. She was also faced with constant harassment about not staying at home and taking care of them. But, nevertheless, she persisted.

Huerta is a woman who did not let getting arrested, 22 times to be exact, shut her up. This is a woman who did not let getting beaten and hospitalized by a San Francisco police officer stop her from coming back stronger. This is a woman who, when given $100,000 to use at her own discretion after a lifetime of dedicating her life to help others, chose to create the Dolores Huerta Foundation to continue her life’s work after she’s gone.

Even at 87 years old, Huerta is still an active figure in the civil and social rights movements. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Obama in 2012, where he gave her credit for using the motto she created for the United Farm Workers movement, “sí, se puede,” which he used as his campaign slogan, “yes we can,” in 2008.

This movie deserves to be shown in classrooms across America because it shines a light on a powerful woman whose story has been kept in the dark. Every single person that was interviewed in the documentary stated that Huerta shaped their lives for the better.

Although the opportunity has passed to attend this Film and Speaker presentation, “Dolores” will be available for purchase March 27, and I highly recommend adding it to your shopping cart.