7 strong and successful Latina women who have really made history

3/12/2018

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History Story: 7 strong and successful Latina women who have really made history

These inspiring Hispanic women became well-known artists, politicians and even astronauts. Meet 7 amazing Latina women who changed the world we live in for the better.

#1 Ellen Ochoa

History Story: The first Hispanic woman in history to go into space — wikipedia Public Domain Mark

During her first space flight, Ellen conduced important research into the Earth’s ozone layer. Later she went on three more space flights, spending 1,000 hours in space in total. Ochoa also became the first Hispanic director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

#2 Joan Baez

History Story: A legendary folk singer — wikipedia Public Domain Mark

Joan was a passionate human right activist and never stopped her fight against war. Her performance at the March for Jobs and Freedom in Washington D.C. on August 28, 1963 made it into history. “We are not afraid today, oh deep in my heart I do believe, we shall overcome someday”, she sang.

#3 Dolores Huerta

History Story: an American labor leader and civil rights activist — wikimedia CC BY-SA

Dolores Huerta did an excellent job to improve social conditions for farm workers. She became the co-founder of the National Farmworkers Association, which would later become the United Farm Workers. In 1965, Dolores helped to organize the Delano grape strike in California. Today she continues to speak out on such social issues as discrimination and income inequality.

#4 Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

History Story: A political pioneer — wikimedia Public Domain Mark

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen succeeded at being first. The list of her accomplishments is truly inspiring: she became the first Latina to serve in the Florida house, the first Latina in the Florida senate, the first Latina to serve in the US House of Representatives, the first Latina and the first Cuban-American in Congress, and the first woman to ever be chair of a regular standing committee of the House. Today Ileana remains the most senior Republican woman in the U.S. House and in Congress.

#5 Julia de Burgos

Born in 1914, Julia became a talented and influential poet. Her poems were mostly about the beauty of her native country, reflecting her sustainable fight for Puerto Rican independence. Julia de Burgos was also a civil rights activist for women and African/Afro-Caribbean writers.

#6 Maria Elena Salinas

History Story: The longest running female news anchor on U.S. television — wikimedia Public Domain Mark

Maria Elena Salinas is definitely one of the most recognized Hispanic female journalists in the US. In 2012, Maria was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Emmy. She founded the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and is constantly helping Latino youth into journalism.

#7 Selena

History Story: A pop superstar — wikipedia

Selena brought Mexican Tejano music to the masses and became one of the most influential Latin artists in history. She won a Grammy award in 1993 and a gold record in 1994 with Amor Prohibido. Selena was widely known as the "Queen of Tejano Music". In 1995, Selena was killed by the president of her fun club.

Did you know about these amazing women before? Which story do you like the most? Who would you add to the list?

We are waiting for your comments!

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

51 Comments

Tweed Vanderhall

What about Rita Moreno or Frida Kahlo

MarieLouise Burns

Pres. Trump needs to be aware of the contribution these Latin woman made to our lives n the public in general.

Anita Clark Morton

I'm into music, so the two names I knew were Joan Baez and Selina. Both awesome singers

Frank Duarte

All of them are iconic but I would have included Justice Sotomayor.

ken

What happened to white women? Real people who made a difference are disappearing from view.

Doris Dallaire

There are many other Latina women to mention. One that comes to mind is the author Isabel Allende.

Lupe Hernandez

Conrado De Leon, To be considered Latina you or your ancestors must have come from a Latin American country: Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, CUBA, Central or South America. Lehtinen was born in Havana, Cuba, a Latina....definitely!

bina sarmah

Nick Delarosa, No, by her manager.

catmom

My favorite was Selena. You forgot about Eva Longoria -- she was great in "Desperate House Wives." I loved & got hooked on that show. It was great.

Conrado De Leon

I wonder how come a woman named Ros-Lehtinen qualifies as "Latina". She was born in Cuba, buit she is definitely NOT Latina.

mingazelaya

Las Damas de Blanco from Cuba Maria Machado from Venezuela The students from Nicaragua, they are heroes; they are fighters for their country against Socialism-Communism, criminals drug cartels and to save their country😇🙏❤

Stanley Scott

My question is why are these people any more important than anyone else?

Edith Rookes

WOW, the wonders of WOMAN. These stories has broaden my outlook about woman. I was doing some research about the woman being misused. Well i have been enlightened about the depth of humanity.