Documentary: Film on Dolores Huerta Explores the Life of a Tireless Activist

Film on Dolores Huerta Explores the Life of a Tireless Activist

The phrase “Sí se puede!” so often attributed to César Chávez, was actually coined by Dolores Huerta during the early struggles of the United Farm Workers (UFW) Union. Though a co-founder of the UFW along with César Chávez, Dolores Huerta has long been under-recognized.

Wendy Greenfield, a long-time friend, activist, and supporter of Dolores Huerta, said, “She has overcome barriers of racism and sexism to lead grassroots organizing efforts.”

The Second Saturday Documentary Series will screen the film Dolores (2017, 95 minutes) on Saturday, February 9, at Niles Discovery Church, 36600 Niles Blvd., Fremont. A discussion after the screening will be led by Wendy Greenfield. The monthly series is sponsored by Niles Discovery Church and the San José Peace and Justice Center. Admission to the film is free.

Peter Bratt, director of the film, chronicles Huerta’s life from her childhood in Stockton, California to her early years with the UFW, from her work with the national grape and lettuce boycotts launched in the 1960s and 1970s to her role in the feminist movement of the 1970s to her continuing work as one of the most defiant labor and feminist activists of our time.

Featuring interviews with Gloria Steinem, Luis Valdez, Angela Davis, and more, Dolores is an intimate and inspiring portrait of a passionate champion of the oppressed and an indomitable woman willing to accept the personal sacrifices involved in committing one’s life to social change. In interviews, several of her 11 children express admiration for their mother, yet recall the deep distress they felt when growing up often without her around.

Wendy Greenfield said of the film, “The many years of struggle have been fruitful and uplifting, but they have also taken a personal toll. The 2017 film Dolores shows her courage and leadership but also the many sacrifices she and her family went through in the course of these struggles. You will be inspired by the film and yet faced with the contradictions of what it means to be a totally dedicated human rights leader.”