FIGHTING FOR LA RAZA
FIGHTING FOR LA RAZA
By Estella Inda
For many of us, having sidewalks to walk on, paved streets to drive down along, the right to vote, and access to equal education are things we take for granted; but in reality, these are things that the generations before us had to fight for during a time of civil unrest. During that time, much like now, several members of the community stood up against injustices that have both targeted and neglected our communities. One such person was Ernestina García, and her legacy remains.
“For many of us, having sidewalks to walk on, paved streets to drive down along, the right to vote, and access to equal education are things we take for granted...”
On March 11, 1919, Ernestina García was born Ernestina Arce Hernandez Zamora. As a daughter of farmworkers, she, along with her 17 brothers and sisters followed the family as they would travel from Arizona through California picking cotton and different fruit. During that time, she gained a better understanding of the injustices that her parents faced while living in Mexico, as well as the injustices they continued to face while working as migrant workers in the United States.
“...she gained a better understanding of the injustices that her parents faced while living in Mexico...”
In the book Ethnic Community Builders, García shares about what it was like living in Arizona where the Mexican kids were not allowed to ride the same bus as the white kids that were going to the same school. The segregation she experienced was not limited to Arizona and resulted in lasting bitter memories of how she and others had to navigate being treated as inferior.
“The segregation she experienced was not limited to Arizona and resulted in lasting bitter memories of how she and others had to navigate being treated as inferior...”