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The Latino Legacy Behind U.S. History
The Latino population in the U.S. has always played a vital role in shaping the country’s past, present, and future. Currently, Latinos represent roughly 1 in 5 Americans, and by 2060, they’re projected to make up over a quarter of the population. This July 4th, it’s time to recognize not just the fireworks and cookouts but also the Latino voices and stories that are central to the American narrative.
For too long, the contributions of Latinos have been left out of textbooks. But without their impact, the U.S. wouldn’t be the country it is today. Here’s a look at some of the figures and movements that prove it.
Champions of the Civil Rights Movement
Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers and advocated for farm labor rights, organizing boycotts and marches that prompted reforms in the 1960s and 1970s. Huerta, now 95, continues to be a leading activist for civil rights.
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Sylvia Mendez played a central role in the 1946 Mendez v. Westminster case, which led to the desegregation of California schools, a crucial precedent for Brown v. Board of Education.
Sylvia Rivera, a Puerto Rican-Venezuelan drag queen, was a pioneer in LGBTQ+ rights, helping to found the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) and advocating for trans and homeless youth.
Antonia Pantoja founded Aspira, an organization that expanded education opportunities for Puerto Rican youth in New York.
Pioneering Latinos in Science
Dr. Antonia Novello, born in Puerto Rico, became the first Latina U.S. Surgeon General in 1990, leading public health campaigns focused on women and minorities.
Dr. Ellen Ochoa broke barriers as the first Latina astronaut in space in 1993. She later became director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and remains a champion for women in STEM.
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Baruj Benacerraf, a Venezuelan-American immunologist, won the Nobel Prize in 1980 for groundbreaking work that still impacts medicine today.
Political Trailblazers
- José Hernández was elected to Congress in 1821, becoming the first Hispanic to achieve this milestone.
- Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo became the first Latino U.S. Senator in 1928.
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, elected in 1989, was the first Hispanic woman in Congress and an early Republican supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
- Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in 2009, rising from a Bronx housing project to the nation’s highest court.
- Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are among today’s high-profile Latino Republicans, with presidential campaigns and long careers in the U.S. Senate.
- Julián Castro served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Obama and ran for president in 2020.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shook up U.S. politics in 2018 when she became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, advocating for progressive causes.
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Enrichers of the American Culture
Rita Moreno, an EGOT winner, was the first Latina to win an Oscar for “West Side Story.”
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Piri Thomas broke literary ground with his memoir “Down These Mean Streets,” chronicling life as an Afro-Latino in Harlem.
Lin-Manuel Miranda redefined Broadway with “Hamilton,” blending hip-hop and history.
Today’s stars like Bad Bunny, Selena Gomez, Jenna Ortega, Jennifer Lopez, and Gloria Estefan continue to redefine American pop culture, showing how Latinos shape every part of the nation’s identity.
As we celebrate July 4th, let’s remember: the American story is also a Latino story. It stretches back centuries and continues to evolve with each new generation. Here’s to a future where that story is fully told.
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