A documentary about the little-known woman who co-founded the first farmworkers unions is being shown tonight in Raleigh. Many people have heard of Cesar Chavez. But right next to him was Dolores Huerta, fighting for racial and labor justice. Here is activist Angela Davis from the documentary called “Dolores.”
“Dolores Huerta came up with ‘Si Se Puede.’ And we all attribute that to Cesar Chavez," said Davis.
Besides the “Yes, We Can” slogan, Huerta is credited with helping to organize and negotiate the 1965 Delano grape strike in California.
Farmworkers, students and the public are gathering at NC State's Witherspoon Campus Cinema to see and talk about the documentary “Dolores." A panel discussion will follow.
Bianca Olivares is the grassroots organizer for Student Action with Farmworkers, a sponsor of tonight’s viewing.
“Not a lot of people really know about the plight of farmworkers," said Olivares. "So we thought that it would be powerful to shed light on a different side of Agriculture that isn’t always like, what people think of.”
Olivares said farmworkers, who are mostly immigrants, continue to work hard for little pay. Olivares said she had friends in middle and high school who picked cucumbers before school and on the weekends. She says Delores Huerta is still needed.
"Despite everything like, she's still at her 80-something years of age, she's still here fighting for farmworkers and the LatinX community," said Olivares.
Huerta will deliver a message via video to the audience at NC State Monday night. She is 87-years-old.
The documentary "Dolores" was also scheduled for showing Sunday, March 25, 2018 at Howell Theatre in Smithfield. The film will air nationally on PBS and UNC-TV at 9pm Tuesday, March 27, 2018.