Thank you, Ms Huerta. For some of us our abusers were not iconic, just soulless males. I am sorry you have carried this pain in silence for so long. I stand with you. ❤️
I am so grateful for Dolores Huerta that she did not have to take the secret of the abuse to her grave. By speaking out, she supported the other women who have come forward.
It is never good to idolize a particular figure in a movement. Instead, we need to honor the collective endeavor.
Popular history like the easy story of one great man who becomes the face of a movement or era, but movements take so much hard work and sacrifice from many people.
How tragic is it that this revelation doesn't really feel that shocking? That men exercise their power to exploit and abuse. When can our societies finally have enough members socialized to immediately condemn and denounce such behavior openly and swiftly? It feels like a gut punch that throws his back decades.
Thank you for this! Absolutely heartbreaking for Dolores Huerta -- carrying two babies and having to give them up in addition to working alongside a man who caused her such devastating trauma is beyond comprehension!
I had the extraordinary good luck to be among the vast Moratorium throng in Golden Gate Park on November 15 1969, who joined Dolores Huerta in reciting those sacred words,
Sí, se puede!
She spoke also of the inclusiveness contained in another phrase of freedom:
Viva la Raza!
And she taught us the great lesson brought North from Chile:
El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido!
What is to be done with the beautiful mural at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, showing the children of the Rainbow sitting under a great Valley Oak, absorbing the lessons of their famous teacher?
This is very hard. We do this together. With love to ease the hurt.
Add Dolores to the mural and be open about the fact that Chavez had failings. I suspect that countless monuments to “heroes” throughout the millennia would have to be re-evaluated if we knew of their private behaviors and don’t propose going back into history to do it, but to put our energies and commitments into the present and the future—in organizational structure, in changing cultural “norms' and what is acceptable vis a vis how we culturally define manhood, and the bringing up of our young boys to be solid in their morality and their behavior and in their values towards not only women but entitlement, power structures and their responsibilities to society and to their fellow human beings.
Happily not my problem, I have fled the mountain-deprived purgatory of Davis.
Several years ago a Paiute warrior, knowing my attachment to one of the local Trumpy settler town, challenged me: you know this is one Struggle, with the Patriarchy.
Since I present as a card-carrying member of the Patriarchy, and Trust is essential, it was a righteous and necessary challenge..
Aside from my mother, a banker's daughter who taught respect for picket lines and the table-grape and lettuce boycotts, Dolores Huerta, in her outreach to us in 1969, was my first teacher in critical political economy.
So let's just stop for a moment and look about us. Donald Trump has plastered his name and image all over Washington DC and elsewhere. He was actually tried and convicted for his crimes yet he continues to deface the Capitol and hold office. We (all of us) have given him permission by our inaction. There is not one good thing he has done.
Now let's look at Chavez. It hurts me terribly to hear what people are saying. I worked with the man as a college student with my husband so I am devastated. But he has not been convicted of his actions (I am not saying he didn't do what people have said) but he has been convicted in the court of the people because what we have all heard disgusts. Yet his legacy will pay a terrible price no matter what good he did for farm workers.
George Washington was a slaver but there are still many things named after him. Andrew Jackson murdered thousands of Native Americans and his picture is on our money. I'm seeing a pattern here. Latino...White...White...and there are many more.
Does the sin that Cezar Chavez committed wipe out all the good of his legacy? Does this mean that those we venerate must be pure and sinless? The GOP and Stephen Miller are loving this right now. It fits nicely into their world view of Latinos. Their knowledge of Latino defective blood.
We cannot wipe Cezar from history but we can step back and stop looking at him like a hero and instead see that he is just a man and a flawed one at that.
Agree, Mimi. There's nothing set in stone (pun intended) about venerating the likes of Andrew Jackson, mass killer of indigenous people. Let's teach children and others the truth. How will we ever rid our society, ourselves, of racism, sexism and imperialism if we don't confront the whole of history, not just the heroic or uplifting parts. We need to stop lying about our past. We need to learn from it. There's a reason southern states finally stopped flying the Confederate flag. It took people with a commitment to the truth to make that happen. Sí se puede!
Add Dolores Huerta’s name and the importance of her work for farm rights and personal sacrifice for the movement wherever we can and be open about the fact that Chavez had failings. I suspect that countless monuments to “heroes” throughout the millennia would have to be re-evaluated if we knew of their private behaviors. I don’t propose going back into history to do it right now, but suggest that we put our energies and money and time and commitments into the present and the future—in organizational structure, in changing cultural “norms' and what is acceptable vis a vis how we culturally define manhood, and the bringing up of our young boys to be solid in their morality and their behavior and in their values towards not only women but entitlement, power structures and their responsibilities to society and to their fellow human beings. And focusing on the present and future not to discount the immense sacrifice of Dolores Huerta and others that suffered, but because we need to truly work on the present to counter the unconscionable acceptance of wrongdoing of those in office TODAY (Trump and those supporting you in your administration, are you listening…) and actively support the future generation which has been so tossed and turned in the last 10 years—these are the young people who will be guiding the future. Focus on Epstein and his global empire of influence, concentrate on voting all who are silent in the face of the destruction of our country OUT of office from the top to the bottom, concentrate on giving support to our Latino/a immigrants of today in their fight against ICE, add your voice to those denouncing the destruction of the illegal Iran ‘war’ and the abandonment of Ukraine and the corruption which allows this at the international level etc. Acknowledge the wrongdoing of Chavez yet focus laser like on Trump, Iran, Miller, Congress etc. The people fighting for the USA have so little time/money to thwart the Heritage Society’s goals—focus our anger and work for change.
I agree. At this time in history, this only hurts the movement which is now under new fire from Trump and his cronies. What Chavez did was despicable, but waiting until you are in your nineties to expose this, and saying that you kept silent to protect the movement then, does not make any sense to me. We cant just start erasing history because of human behavior.
The Culture of Victim Silence can and should change. It will often be uncomfortable, messy, and complicated. We The People have the courage and fortitude to see it through.
Any school or public building that has Has Chavez’ name should be changed to honor Delores Huerta’s contribution towards securing the civil rights of hispanics and other non-white populations
I find it fascinating how the revelation is being taken as truth and am very glad that Ms Huerta was able to have her say and find her reasons for being quiet very compelling and believable. I can only compare the coming responses of state agencies etc re any commemorative designations of chavez to the continued glorification of traitors to the Union by present day confederates.
Thank you for sharing this important writing. Yes, all the Cesar Chavez streets should be renamed for Dolores. She is the strong one. She is the hero. It is tragic that this has all come to Light, yet I am grateful that it has come to Light in the month that honors womens histories and contributions, and in the larger light of the ongoing Epstein scandal which needs to be fully revealed, as horrible as it is.
Too many such stories, too much heartbreak, but in Dolores Huerta's case, we remember her and will continue to honor her as a leader of a movement for working people everywhere!
Thank you, Ms Huerta. For some of us our abusers were not iconic, just soulless males. I am sorry you have carried this pain in silence for so long. I stand with you. ❤️
Thank you for speaking out and for all the very hard work over so many years. When will we hold those in the Epstein files accountable?
I was going to ask that exact question. Believe the women!!!
I am so grateful for Dolores Huerta that she did not have to take the secret of the abuse to her grave. By speaking out, she supported the other women who have come forward.
It is never good to idolize a particular figure in a movement. Instead, we need to honor the collective endeavor.
Popular history like the easy story of one great man who becomes the face of a movement or era, but movements take so much hard work and sacrifice from many people.
How tragic is it that this revelation doesn't really feel that shocking? That men exercise their power to exploit and abuse. When can our societies finally have enough members socialized to immediately condemn and denounce such behavior openly and swiftly? It feels like a gut punch that throws his back decades.
I don’t believe men exploit & abuse just because they can
I think that some men do exploit and abuse because they can.
Some men abuse because they are raised to believe that their religion elevates them to dominion over women.
Thank you for this! Absolutely heartbreaking for Dolores Huerta -- carrying two babies and having to give them up in addition to working alongside a man who caused her such devastating trauma is beyond comprehension!
hard to imagine, hard to accept. we need as a nation and as individuals to do better, teach better, learn better.
I had the extraordinary good luck to be among the vast Moratorium throng in Golden Gate Park on November 15 1969, who joined Dolores Huerta in reciting those sacred words,
Sí, se puede!
She spoke also of the inclusiveness contained in another phrase of freedom:
Viva la Raza!
And she taught us the great lesson brought North from Chile:
El Pueblo Unido Jamas Sera Vencido!
What is to be done with the beautiful mural at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, showing the children of the Rainbow sitting under a great Valley Oak, absorbing the lessons of their famous teacher?
This is very hard. We do this together. With love to ease the hurt.
Add Dolores to the mural and be open about the fact that Chavez had failings. I suspect that countless monuments to “heroes” throughout the millennia would have to be re-evaluated if we knew of their private behaviors and don’t propose going back into history to do it, but to put our energies and commitments into the present and the future—in organizational structure, in changing cultural “norms' and what is acceptable vis a vis how we culturally define manhood, and the bringing up of our young boys to be solid in their morality and their behavior and in their values towards not only women but entitlement, power structures and their responsibilities to society and to their fellow human beings.
Add Dolores and teach the full story. Yes.
Happily not my problem, I have fled the mountain-deprived purgatory of Davis.
Several years ago a Paiute warrior, knowing my attachment to one of the local Trumpy settler town, challenged me: you know this is one Struggle, with the Patriarchy.
Since I present as a card-carrying member of the Patriarchy, and Trust is essential, it was a righteous and necessary challenge..
Aside from my mother, a banker's daughter who taught respect for picket lines and the table-grape and lettuce boycotts, Dolores Huerta, in her outreach to us in 1969, was my first teacher in critical political economy.
Teach! With Love!
Beautifully written and beautifully said. Thank you for putting me on the verge of tears.
So let's just stop for a moment and look about us. Donald Trump has plastered his name and image all over Washington DC and elsewhere. He was actually tried and convicted for his crimes yet he continues to deface the Capitol and hold office. We (all of us) have given him permission by our inaction. There is not one good thing he has done.
Now let's look at Chavez. It hurts me terribly to hear what people are saying. I worked with the man as a college student with my husband so I am devastated. But he has not been convicted of his actions (I am not saying he didn't do what people have said) but he has been convicted in the court of the people because what we have all heard disgusts. Yet his legacy will pay a terrible price no matter what good he did for farm workers.
George Washington was a slaver but there are still many things named after him. Andrew Jackson murdered thousands of Native Americans and his picture is on our money. I'm seeing a pattern here. Latino...White...White...and there are many more.
Does the sin that Cezar Chavez committed wipe out all the good of his legacy? Does this mean that those we venerate must be pure and sinless? The GOP and Stephen Miller are loving this right now. It fits nicely into their world view of Latinos. Their knowledge of Latino defective blood.
We cannot wipe Cezar from history but we can step back and stop looking at him like a hero and instead see that he is just a man and a flawed one at that.
I would love to see the names and images of each enslaver removed from public places.
Agree, Mimi. There's nothing set in stone (pun intended) about venerating the likes of Andrew Jackson, mass killer of indigenous people. Let's teach children and others the truth. How will we ever rid our society, ourselves, of racism, sexism and imperialism if we don't confront the whole of history, not just the heroic or uplifting parts. We need to stop lying about our past. We need to learn from it. There's a reason southern states finally stopped flying the Confederate flag. It took people with a commitment to the truth to make that happen. Sí se puede!
How does one man, DJT, get away with what he shouldn't and others are held accountable?
Don’t give up. The energy for accountability is growing.
Add Dolores Huerta’s name and the importance of her work for farm rights and personal sacrifice for the movement wherever we can and be open about the fact that Chavez had failings. I suspect that countless monuments to “heroes” throughout the millennia would have to be re-evaluated if we knew of their private behaviors. I don’t propose going back into history to do it right now, but suggest that we put our energies and money and time and commitments into the present and the future—in organizational structure, in changing cultural “norms' and what is acceptable vis a vis how we culturally define manhood, and the bringing up of our young boys to be solid in their morality and their behavior and in their values towards not only women but entitlement, power structures and their responsibilities to society and to their fellow human beings. And focusing on the present and future not to discount the immense sacrifice of Dolores Huerta and others that suffered, but because we need to truly work on the present to counter the unconscionable acceptance of wrongdoing of those in office TODAY (Trump and those supporting you in your administration, are you listening…) and actively support the future generation which has been so tossed and turned in the last 10 years—these are the young people who will be guiding the future. Focus on Epstein and his global empire of influence, concentrate on voting all who are silent in the face of the destruction of our country OUT of office from the top to the bottom, concentrate on giving support to our Latino/a immigrants of today in their fight against ICE, add your voice to those denouncing the destruction of the illegal Iran ‘war’ and the abandonment of Ukraine and the corruption which allows this at the international level etc. Acknowledge the wrongdoing of Chavez yet focus laser like on Trump, Iran, Miller, Congress etc. The people fighting for the USA have so little time/money to thwart the Heritage Society’s goals—focus our anger and work for change.
I agree. At this time in history, this only hurts the movement which is now under new fire from Trump and his cronies. What Chavez did was despicable, but waiting until you are in your nineties to expose this, and saying that you kept silent to protect the movement then, does not make any sense to me. We cant just start erasing history because of human behavior.
The Culture of Victim Silence can and should change. It will often be uncomfortable, messy, and complicated. We The People have the courage and fortitude to see it through.
Any school or public building that has Has Chavez’ name should be changed to honor Delores Huerta’s contribution towards securing the civil rights of hispanics and other non-white populations
A beautiful piece🙏🙏
Thank you Maria! for a beautiful piece and mil gracias a Dolores Huerta for her life and witness, and courage now in speaking out.
I find it fascinating how the revelation is being taken as truth and am very glad that Ms Huerta was able to have her say and find her reasons for being quiet very compelling and believable. I can only compare the coming responses of state agencies etc re any commemorative designations of chavez to the continued glorification of traitors to the Union by present day confederates.
Excellent! Let's get those streets and other things mis-named for Chavis changed to honoring Dolores Huerta.
Thank you for the sad but wonderful writing!
Thank you for sharing this important writing. Yes, all the Cesar Chavez streets should be renamed for Dolores. She is the strong one. She is the hero. It is tragic that this has all come to Light, yet I am grateful that it has come to Light in the month that honors womens histories and contributions, and in the larger light of the ongoing Epstein scandal which needs to be fully revealed, as horrible as it is.
Too many such stories, too much heartbreak, but in Dolores Huerta's case, we remember her and will continue to honor her as a leader of a movement for working people everywhere!