Dolores Huerta

If you live in California, yes, in California, even undocumented people here have health care.

Well, actually, when we started the boycott and I went to New York to direct the great boycott, Caesar was back in California. People in New York City had no idea who Caesar Chavez was. We had to introduce Caesar. So I pretty much became the face of the boycott in New York and in Chicago also because Cesar was back in California while we were running the boycotts.

Well, actually, when we started the boycott and I went to New York to direct the great boycott, Caesar was back in California. People in New York City had no idea who Caesar Chavez was. We had to introduce Caesar. So I pretty much became the face of the boycott in New York and in Chicago also because Cesar was back in California while we were running the boycotts.

And so I actually became the face. So I have never – I have been over-recognized sometimes, I believe. Oh, really? Oh, good.

And so I actually became the face. So I have never – I have been over-recognized sometimes, I believe. Oh, really? Oh, good.

Yeah, because I have probably about 14 schools named after me throughout the United States of America, parks, streets, centers, etc., So I think I have received a lot of recognition. Now the people that were not recognized besides Cesar and myself were the farm workers. We lost five people that were killed during the strikes. We had people that were put in jail, people that lost their homes.

Yeah, because I have probably about 14 schools named after me throughout the United States of America, parks, streets, centers, etc., So I think I have received a lot of recognition. Now the people that were not recognized besides Cesar and myself were the farm workers. We lost five people that were killed during the strikes. We had people that were put in jail, people that lost their homes.

All of these people that sacrificed, their names are unknown to anyone now.

All of these people that sacrificed, their names are unknown to anyone now.

Yes, I took him to the welfare office and tried to make an application, and they would not let him make an application. And when I went back to the office and I told Fred Ross Sr. that he said, you go back to that office right now and you demand to see a supervisor. Now, he did not say, I'm going to call them ahead of time. I'm going to give you a note to take to them.

Yes, I took him to the welfare office and tried to make an application, and they would not let him make an application. And when I went back to the office and I told Fred Ross Sr. that he said, you go back to that office right now and you demand to see a supervisor. Now, he did not say, I'm going to call them ahead of time. I'm going to give you a note to take to them.

No, he said, you go down there. And I thought, I can do that? And he said, yes, you can do that. All public officials are paid by our tax dollars. And you can make demands of them. So I went back to the welfare office and I got all my courage together. And I said, I want to see a supervisor. And the supervisor came out. I thought, whoa, I could do that. And to me, that was a moment of empowerment.

No, he said, you go down there. And I thought, I can do that? And he said, yes, you can do that. All public officials are paid by our tax dollars. And you can make demands of them. So I went back to the welfare office and I got all my courage together. And I said, I want to see a supervisor. And the supervisor came out. I thought, whoa, I could do that. And to me, that was a moment of empowerment.

But the way that Mr. Ross did that, you know, to make sure that I had the courage. Yes, that's right. Exactly. Yeah, that was a big lesson. That's a big lesson. Yeah, that's a lesson that we have to say to people. You do not have to be a victim. You can be the hero of your own story. And that's what we did when we organized farm workers to say, you can be the heroes of this story.

But the way that Mr. Ross did that, you know, to make sure that I had the courage. Yes, that's right. Exactly. Yeah, that was a big lesson. That's a big lesson. Yeah, that's a lesson that we have to say to people. You do not have to be a victim. You can be the hero of your own story. And that's what we did when we organized farm workers to say, you can be the heroes of this story.

And we had to go up against big ag, big oil, big banks, you know, President Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and we won.

And we had to go up against big ag, big oil, big banks, you know, President Nixon, Ronald Reagan, and we won.

I think you explained the process perfectly. In my thinking, if I don't do it, then it's not going to happen. If I don't get out there and help organize farm workers, they're never going to have a union. I quit my teaching job. in Stockton to go to Delano to start the union because I had been given that gift of knowledge of organizing that I can do this.

I think you explained the process perfectly. In my thinking, if I don't do it, then it's not going to happen. If I don't get out there and help organize farm workers, they're never going to have a union. I quit my teaching job. in Stockton to go to Delano to start the union because I had been given that gift of knowledge of organizing that I can do this.

And if I don't do it, then farm workers are always going to have to live in the same type of miserable conditions that they're working and living in. My mother used to say that. to us growing up. If you can help someone, if you have the ability, then you have an obligation and responsibility to do that. And so that has sort of been my mantra throughout my whole life.