10 Latinas Who Serve as an Inspiration to the Latin Community
Zoe Saldaña said that people usually perceive latina women as being fiery and fierce. She said that in her own opinion, that the common quality that Latina women have is their strength. She also said that Latinas are strong, courageous, and are experts in all fields such as science, law, the arts, and politics. Here are top ten amazing Latinas who have inspiredly made history and have positively transformed and shaped the world.
1. Ellen Ochoa
The first Hispanic woman in the entire universe to go into space on April 8, 1993, was Ellen Ochoa. Aboard the Discovery Shuttle was Ochoa and they were tasked to conduct substantial research on the ozone layer of the Earth for nine days. After that event, Ochoa went to another three space flights. The total record of her hours in space is 1,000 hours. Ochoa wasn't satisfied with her first groundbreaking moment and decided to become Johnson Space Center's the first Hispanic director in Houston, Texas in 2013.
2. Joan Baez
The legendary folk singer, Joan Baez, sang "We shall overcome" at the March for civil rights in Washington in 1963. Baez lived by words in the lyrics even when she has become the anti-war effort's spokesperson, an activist for civil rights, and a well-known singer-songwriter. People usually recognize her for her relationship with Bob Dylan, but what made her become a successful woman is because of her astonishing voice, her passion, her advocacy for human rights, and her persistence in fighting for the disregarded and the wronged.
3. Dolores Huerta
In the early Twentieth Century, Dolores Huerta, along with people like her, changed history by fighting for the farmers and citizens receiving despicable wages. The farmers were mostly settlers from Central America and have experienced hardship throughout. They did the most difficult job and slept in places that aren't even considered a shelter and what they received in return were wages do not even equal to all their struggles. Huerta founded an organization that are willing to assist the farmers, the United Farm Workers, in 1965. Huerta led the boycotts, lookouts, rallies, and other activities in bringing protection to the most helpless citizens.
4. Selena
Selena Quintanilla, more commonly known as 'Selena' and a superstar from Texas. She was recognized for introducing Mexican Tejano and for acquiring a Grammy award in 1993. She also won a gold record in 1994. She resembled the famous Madonna. Selena's career ended when she was dreadfully shot by her fan club's president after their disagreement about the issue of her company money being embezzled. Her fans were in tragic and are mourning for Selena and her lost talent.
5. Sylvia Rivera
A Venezuelan-Puerto Rican trans woman, Sylvia Rivera, was a groundbreaking activist of the LGBT community who stood up for trans rights was credited to be the person to "put the "t" in the LGBT". In 1970, Rivera established the organization Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Marsha P. Johnson. The organization offered shelter for the homeless trans people in New York. She has devoted herself to help the trans community.
6. Ana Mendieta
As early as the age of 12, Ana Mendieta became a refugee and fled from the administration switch in Cuba to Dubuque, Iowa. Mendieta's extraordinary artworks are the fruit of her relocation. She used the earth as her medium for her 200 masterpieces. Her drawings are more about spiritualism, magic, native forms of knowledge, and a feminist approach. Mendieta was murdered in 1985 by Carl Andre, her husband, and was cleared of it. She has only recently received the recognition.
7. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
A political pioneer, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, has achieved so many in her life. She was the first Latin woman to work in the Florida house. She was also Florida senate, United States House of Representatives, Congress' first Latina and Cuban-American. She was also the House's first Latina to be a chair of a regular standing committee. Her retirement after a service of 40 years was announced by the Republican representative.
8. Julia de Burgos
Puertican Julia Constanza Burgos García, a prosperous published poet, barely but successfully made her way to recognition after moving to the United States around 1930. Her poems were about her native country's beauty and served as a celebration for being an immigrant black Latina. Her brilliant and dazzling poems served as an inspiration for future Latin writers and the center of feminism and social justice.
9. Maria Elena Salinas
Maria Elena Salinas, the U.S. television's most senior female news anchor, and first Latina to win a Lifetime Achievement Emmy has been in the industry for over 30 years. She was the one to dub The New York Times' "Voice of Hispanic America" and has become the role model for the Latin society. She announced her farewell and gratefulness towards her audience at Univision. Her audience looks up and recognizes her for bringing up issues concerning the people from her native country as well as immigrant children and to bring journalism to the youth of the Latin community.
10. Sonia Sotomayor
Sonia Sotomayor, a Supreme Court Justice, said that there are advantages to difficulties, but don't show themselves until tested whether it is a problem on finances, illnesses, or other hardships. She was raised by a single parent and became Princeton's summa cum laude. She also studied in Yale Law School and became a judge of the U.S. District Court and the first ever Latina Supreme Court Justice afterwards. Sotomayor has been the voice for the justice of the women and the ethnic minorities.