Dolores Huerta

Well, I like jazz. And so here in Bakersfield, California, we have a jazz workshop every Tuesday. And we go here free jazz. And we have different musicians that play. And I love dancing. I love music. Do you play an instrument? I did when I was young. I played the violin. I played the piano. But I had no talent.

Yes, I used to actually dance. I did tap. I did toe. Yes, I did flamenco when I was a youth.

Yes, I used to actually dance. I did tap. I did toe. Yes, I did flamenco when I was a youth.

Yeah, that would be fun.

Yeah, that would be fun.

Well, I had the good fortune to meet Charlie Parker, who, of course, was a great musician and Dizzy Gillespie also. Yes. I really can't keep up with the younger ones and the names of the younger ones. So I'm kind of old school, but I love young jazz also.

Well, I had the good fortune to meet Charlie Parker, who, of course, was a great musician and Dizzy Gillespie also. Yes. I really can't keep up with the younger ones and the names of the younger ones. So I'm kind of old school, but I love young jazz also.

Well, when I was young, I grew up in Stockton, California, which is close to San Francisco. So we would always go to San Francisco or to Sacramento to see and hear all of the great jazz musicians.

Well, when I was young, I grew up in Stockton, California, which is close to San Francisco. So we would always go to San Francisco or to Sacramento to see and hear all of the great jazz musicians.

I actually did. Yeah, with Dizzy Gillespie especially, but that was in New York City during the Great Boycott. When I met Charlie Parker, I was so stunned I couldn't speak. I was speechless. Really? All I could do was stare at him.

I actually did. Yeah, with Dizzy Gillespie especially, but that was in New York City during the Great Boycott. When I met Charlie Parker, I was so stunned I couldn't speak. I was speechless. Really? All I could do was stare at him.

Well, he was wonderful. And I met him through, of course, Harry Belafonte is the one that introduced me to Dizzy. And Dizzy actually, then when he was playing, I think, at the Vanguard, he actually took one of our boycott buttons and put it on his dashiki. And told everybody, yes, everybody, you have to boycott grapes to help the farm workers. I love that. Just like your mom.

Well, he was wonderful. And I met him through, of course, Harry Belafonte is the one that introduced me to Dizzy. And Dizzy actually, then when he was playing, I think, at the Vanguard, he actually took one of our boycott buttons and put it on his dashiki. And told everybody, yes, everybody, you have to boycott grapes to help the farm workers. I love that. Just like your mom.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes, I can, because we had been on strike for two weeks, and I ran out of clean clothes, and I had that one white wrinkled sweater, but it was the only thing that I had that was clean that I could put on. The photographer, Harvey Richards, was trying to take my picture, and I was trying to avoid him. Why? Why? Well, just because I had this wrinkled sweater on. Oh, for goodness sakes.

Yes, I can, because we had been on strike for two weeks, and I ran out of clean clothes, and I had that one white wrinkled sweater, but it was the only thing that I had that was clean that I could put on. The photographer, Harvey Richards, was trying to take my picture, and I was trying to avoid him. Why? Why? Well, just because I had this wrinkled sweater on. Oh, for goodness sakes.

That's hilarious. And I was standing on top of a car holding up that sign because there were people working in the field to bring to their attention that there was a strike going on. And so the picture became very iconic. And actually, I met the directors of Norma Rae at a party in Los Angeles, and they told me that this is where they got the idea for Norma Rae.

That's hilarious. And I was standing on top of a car holding up that sign because there were people working in the field to bring to their attention that there was a strike going on. And so the picture became very iconic. And actually, I met the directors of Norma Rae at a party in Los Angeles, and they told me that this is where they got the idea for Norma Rae.

Well, actually, in Arizona, they had passed a law that if farm workers went on strike or anyone said boycott anything, you could go to prison. Imagine. Yeah, and we were working to try to overturn that law. So Cesar had done a 25-day water-only fast. He did not eat anything. just to consume water and Holy Communion for 25 days.