Early Life and Education of Dolores Huerta: A Complete Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Dolores Huerta. A timeline of key moments.

Dolores Huerta is a prominent American labor leader and activist. She co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Cesar Chavez and Gilbert Padilla, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). Huerta played a crucial role in organizing the Delano grape strike of 1965, spearheading boycott campaigns and negotiating with grape companies. She's credited with popularizing the UFW's iconic slogan "sí se puede," symbolizing empowerment and collective action. Her lifelong dedication has advanced farmworkers' rights and social justice, solidifying her legacy as a transformative figure in American history.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

April 10, 1930: Dolores Huerta Born

On April 10, 1930, Dolores Huerta was born. She later became a prominent American labor leader and feminist activist.

Others born on this day/year

1937: Mother's Cannery Strike Participation

In 1937, Dolores Huerta's mother, a member of the United Cannery, Agricultural, Packing, and Allied Workers of America (UCAPAWA), participated in a strike at the cannery where she worked.

1938: Father Elected to State Legislature

In 1938, Dolores Huerta's father was elected to the state legislature in New Mexico, where he was described as a "fiery union leader."

1941: Mother Opens Restaurant

In 1941, Dolores Huerta's mother opened a restaurant in Stockton, California, providing support for the family.

1947: Graduation from High School

In 1947, Dolores Huerta graduated from Stockton High School, where she described the environment as "segregated" by class and race.

1953: Graduation from Stockton College

In 1953, Dolores Huerta graduated from the University of the Pacific's Stockton College, later known as San Joaquin Delta College, with a provisional teaching credential.

1963: Lobbied for Repeal of Bracero Program

In 1963, Dolores Huerta lobbied for the repeal of the Bracero Program, a guest farmworker program, which she and other Latino activists believed took jobs from Latino citizens.

1963: Divorced Ventura Huerta

In 1963, Dolores Huerta's relationship with her second husband, Ventura, deteriorated, leading to their divorce.

1964: Move to Delano

In 1964, Dolores Huerta left her position with the CSO and moved in with Cesar Chavez and his family in Delano to focus on organizing efforts with the NFWA.

April 1965: Organized strike on behalf of rose grafters

In April 1965, Dolores Huerta helped the NFWA organize a strike on behalf of rose grafters employed by the Mount Arbor and Conklin companies.

August 19, 1965: AWOC and NFWA merged

On August 19, 1965, the AWOC and NFWA merged to form the United Farm Workers (UFW).

September 8, 1965: AWOC initiates Delano strike

On September 8, 1965, union organizer Larry Itliong of the AWOC initiated a strike at nine vineyards in Delano, prompting him to seek support from Cesar Chavez and the NFWA.

1966: Negotiations with grape companies

In 1966, Dolores Huerta successfully negotiated a contract with several of the struck grape companies—Schenley, Gallo, and Franzia—resulting in a contract favorable to the workers.

June 5, 1968: Attended Robert F. Kennedy's Victory Speech

On June 5, 1968, Dolores Huerta attended Robert F. Kennedy's primary victory speech, where he was assassinated. She later described Kennedy's assassination as "the death of our future".

July 29, 1970: End of Grape Strike

On July 29, 1970, Dolores Huerta helped secure a contract with the remaining grape companies, increasing workers' wages, adding new safety rules to protect workers from pesticides, creating a health fund named after Robert F. Kennedy, and turning the hiring process from the companies over to the UFW.

1972: Co-chair at Democratic National Convention

In 1972, Dolores Huerta served as a co-chair for South Dakota Senator George McGovern's California delegation at the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

1976: Agricultural Labor Relations Board shut down

In 1976, Amidst a conflict between the UFW and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, which had been created by the ALRA, shut down due to lack of funding.

1976: Called herself a feminist

In 1976, Dolores Huerta called herself a feminist in an interview with Ms. magazine, crediting the women's liberation movement with assuaging her guilt about her divorces.

1985: Called herself a born-again feminist

In 1985, Dolores Huerta called herself a "born-again feminist" as she began to reassess her beliefs about women's issues.

September 1988: Beating at Protest

In September 1988, Dolores Huerta was beaten by a police officer at a protest against the George H. W. Bush administration at the St. Francis Hotel in Union Square, San Francisco, leading to significant injuries and a settlement.

1988: Worked with FMF

During her leave of absence from the UFW after the 1988 Union Square beating, she worked with the Feminist Majority Foundation (FMF), a nonprofit organization that advocates for reproductive health and women's equality.

1988: Footage of Beating at the St. Francis Hotel

The documentary "Dolores" shows footage of Dolores Huerta being beaten at the St. Francis Hotel in 1988.

1993: Return to UFW work

In 1993, after Cesar Chavez's death, Dolores Huerta returned to union work, supporting strawberry workers, speaking at colleges, attending union meetings, and testifying before Congress.

1994: Campained against California Proposition 187

In 1994, Dolores Huerta campaigned against California Proposition 187, which aimed to deny healthcare and education services to undocumented immigrants, characterizing it as rooted in racial anxiety.

1999: Continued work with FMF

In 1999, Dolores Huerta continued her work with the FMF after she retired from UFW organizing.

1999: Stepped down from UFW

In 1999, Dolores Huerta stepped down from her position as UFW vice president to work on other social causes.

2000: Worked on Al Gore's presidential campaign

In 2000, Dolores Huerta worked on Al Gore's presidential campaign.

2004: Endorsed Howard Dean

In 2004, Dolores Huerta endorsed former Vermont Governor Howard Dean during the Democratic primaries.

2005: Campained for Assembly Bill 19

In 2005, Dolores Huerta campaigned alongside California Assemblyman Mark Leno to pass Assembly Bill 19, which aimed to legalize same-sex marriage in the state but was vetoed by the governor.

2006: Speech in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, Dolores Huerta spoke in favor of same-sex marriage.

2008: Campained for Hillary Clinton in Democratic Primaries

In 2008, Dolores Huerta campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the Democratic primaries and served as a delegate for her at the DNC.

2009: Featured in A Crushing Love

In 2009, Dolores Huerta was featured in the documentary "A Crushing Love", directed by Sylvia Morales, alongside other Chicana activists.

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2014: Campaign against Colorado's Amendment 67

In 2014, Dolores Huerta campaigned against Colorado's Amendment 67, which aimed to define "unborn human beings" as people. The amendment was ultimately defeated.

2014: Criticism for Support of Barack Obama

In 2014, Dolores Huerta received criticism for her support of Barack Obama despite perceived delays in immigration reform under his administration.

2014: Played by Rosario Dawson in Cesar Chavez

In 2014, Rosario Dawson played Dolores Huerta in the film "Cesar Chavez", directed by Diego Luna.

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2016: Implementation of Vecinos Unidos

As of 2016, the Vecinos Unidos system, part of the Dolores Huerta Foundation's organizing model, had been implemented in several rural California communities to teach residents collaboration and political engagement.

2016: Endorsed Hillary Clinton and Controversy at Nevada Caucus

In 2016, Dolores Huerta endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and starred in an ad for her campaign. During the Nevada caucus, an incident occurred where she offered to translate for Bernie Sanders' supporters, leading to a controversial tweet and allegations of misinterpretation.

2016: DHF Lawsuit Against Kern High School District

In 2016, the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) was a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Kern High School District (KHSD), alleging discriminatory disciplinary actions against Black and Latino students.

2017: Condemned Trump's Rescission of DACA

In 2017, Dolores Huerta condemned Trump's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, calling it "a step above slavery".

2017: Honorary Co-chair of the Women's March

In 2017, Dolores Huerta served as an honorary co-chair of the Women's March in Washington, D.C., alongside Gloria Steinem and Harry Belafonte. The march protested potential regressions in women's rights under the Trump presidency.

2017: Subject of the Documentary Dolores

In 2017, Dolores Huerta was the subject of the documentary "Dolores", directed by Peter Bratt, which featured interviews with her children and discussed her feminism.

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2018: Spoke at El Paso Rally

In 2018, Dolores Huerta spoke at an El Paso rally in protest of Trump's family separation policy.

2018: DHF Presents Map to KHSD

In 2018, the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF) presented a map outlining possible school district boundaries to the Kern High School District (KHSD) after Latino organizations threatened a lawsuit over unfair voting boundaries.

May 2020: Endorsed Joe Biden for President

In May 2020, Dolores Huerta endorsed Joe Biden for president after initially criticizing him for his comments on border crossings.

2020: Vecinos Unidos Raised Millions

In 2020, Camila Chavez reports that Vecinos Unidos had raised millions of dollars for infrastructure projects.

2021: Spoke at Pride Celebration in Fresno

In 2021, Dolores Huerta spoke at a pride celebration in Fresno, California, advocating for LGBTQ rights and condemning discriminatory rhetoric.

2023: Camila Chavez Becomes Executive Director of DHF

As of 2023, Camila Chavez, Dolores Huerta's youngest daughter, is the executive director of the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF).

2024: Endorsed Kamala Harris for President

In 2024, Dolores Huerta endorsed Kamala Harris for president.

2024: Supported California Proposition 3

In 2024, the Dolores Huerta Foundation endorsed California Proposition 3, which removed discriminatory language about marriage from the state constitution and affirmed marriage as a fundamental right, ultimately passing with voter support.