SI, SE PUEDE

 Sí , Se Puede is a thought provoking documentary about Civil Rights activist and feminist Dolores Huerta from Sacramento, California. 


Married very young, Ms. Huerta had a couple children but the marriage didn't last.  Then as a result of a second marriage, she ended up as mother to 11 children. Yet, she knew sacrifice would be necessary to create change and wanted to do more than just being a mother and wife after witnessing the injustice of the farm workers many of whom were limited English speakers. They needed her voice and direction. She viewed the alternative to capitalism as socialized democracy.

Chavez, Ross, Huerta

Fred Ross, a community organizer recognized Delores Huerta's  social consciousness and introduced her to Cesar Chavez from Stockton as they were both trying to organize the  farm workers in their respective cities.  This was both a labor and cultural movement with demands for fair wages and improvement of horrific living conditions including water breaks and bathrooms. 

STRIKE.

Growers were rich and powerful and of course didn't want a union. Chavez and Huerta ended up co-founders of La Causa, National Farm Workers Association in '65 and organized a strike march in support of the Filipino  Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) grape strike.  The two committees merged to form what is now known as the United Farmworkers Union.

Throughout time whenever power is threatened there is turmoil.  Threats were made to take away citizenship and government assistance. Teamsters even came in to create trouble.  Police brutality was rampant but this cultural revolution provided the workers with pride. "BROWN and PROUD." 

Little was written about Huerta's role and what was, was diminished.  This feminist icon was responsible for the infamous phrase "Sí, se puede." '"Yes, you can! 

At 87 what a legacy Dolores Huerta has in union building which still are traditionally underrepresented by women. As we women do know thanks to women like Dolores Huerta, Sí, se puede.

INTERVIEW WITH BENJAMIN PRATT& DELORES HUERTA