4 Latina Women Who Fought For All Women

Women who fight for women are powerful. These four Latina women believed in solidarity and freedom for all women. They continuously broke barriers, fought for justice, and cared for the generations after them. We highlight Dolores Huerta, Julia De Burgos, Maria Elena Salinas, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Dolores Huerta

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

Dolores Huerta is a woman who means business. As a known civil rights activist and labor leader, she co-founded the National Farmers Association, now known as the United Farm Workers, with Ceaser Chavez. 

From a young child, Dolores Huerta was active in her community. She encouraged cultural diversity because the agricultural community she was a part of had Mexican, Filipino, African-American, Japanese, and Chinese working families. 

She was active in the women’s liberation movement, working to break the barriers of gender inequality for women worldwide. Dolores continuously challenged gender discrimination in the farmworkers movement. 

Dolores is a fighter. At the age of 89, she continued to advocate for working poor, women, and children. She founded the Dolores Huerta Foundation as she travels across the country defending civil rights and influencing legislation that supports equality. There are seven schools named after her while also being a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama.  

Julia De Burgos

(Source: The Boston Calendar)

Julia De Burgos was a Puerto Rican poet. She wrote engaging poems about feminism and social justice. Her works and poems that highlighted feminism, blackness, migration, love, nationalism, and nature helped create the Nuyorican movement in the 1960s. 

Julia fought for civil rights for women, African/ Afro Caribbean poets, and for Puerto Rico Independence. She served as the Secretary-General of the Daughters of Freedom, a part of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. 

Julia believed in solidarity and justice. She did not hide her African Heritage; she embraced it and used it as a bridge to fight for justice for all. Julia constantly expressed her solidarity with African-Americans while writing for a Spanish-language socialist weekly newspaper, Pueblos Hispanos. She also participated in literary, cultural, and political events to support social justice.

Maria Elena Salinas

(Source: Forbes)

Maria Elena Salinas is the longest-running female news anchor. As she is making history, she is representing her community and women all over. As one of the most recognized and respected journalists in the country, she served as co-anchor on Univision’s evening news program for more than 30 years.

Maria is breaking barriers and making history as the first woman journalist in wartime Baghdad. She founded the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. For over two decades, she has provided multiple students with scholarships under her name.  

Maria has made her seat at the table as she interviewed Latin American heads of states, dictators, and every U.S. president since President Jimmy Carter. She is most recognized for her journalism and philanthropic work. She’s received multiple awards such as the Peabody Award, Intrepid Award from the National Organization for Women, and an Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Sonia Sotomayor

(Source: Los Angeles Times)

Sonia Sotomayor is the fierce federal trial court judge. She is the first Hispanic and third woman to serve on the High Court. One of her accomplishments is saving Major League Baseball from a strike in 1995. All lawyers know her for confronting criminals sharply from the bench. 

President Obama nominated Sonia to the Supreme Court Justice list due to her empathy and “common touch.” She was the first Hispanic to be appointed to this position. She is trusted in the judicial process while being known for her blunt approach to injustice. She is also known for her kindness towards jurors, and hard-working attorneys.  

Sonia Sotomayor continually serves as she helps shape the history of America and for generations to come. She is representing women in power every day. 

These women are powerhouses, fighting for change and freedom for women all over. Their work does not go unnoticed as it is shaping a better future for young girls worldwide. They see these women in high positions like Sonia Sotomayor and will learn about women who fought for them, like Dolores Huertas, and will be inspired to carry the torch. 

Zoe loves encouraging her curlfriends to extend love and support to everybody around them. We’re celebrating women all over the world and their contributions to our lives. Sign up for our newsletter below for updates and information.