5 Latinx Humanitarians You Should Know

As we continue in celebration of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m resuming my blog series highlighting achievements being made by our country’s brightest and boldest, who so happen to make up the largest minority group in the U.S. (18% as of 2019).

Let’s look at Latinx Humanitarians this week.

Latinx humanitarians demonstrate relentless selflessness, creating opportunities for the less fortunate and/or underrepresented groups to help them achieve decency, obtain basic human rights, and in many cases, create a better life for themselves.

Being a humanitarian is no easy task, and when you add the elements of political unrest both in Latin America and the U.S., racial and economic bias, plus countless other challenges, these individuals are to be recognized universally. In no particular order, here are five humanitarians I admire and who you should get to know too:

Roberto Clemente

Clemente cemented his legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time, breaking down racial barriers, winning multiple championships, amassing outstanding offensive and defensive statistics, and displaying leadership on and off the baseball field. Clemente was also known for his humanitarian efforts, as he helped people in need across the United States and Central America and held free baseball clinics for children in Puerto Rico. In 1972, an earthquake struck Nicaragua, and Clemente became the honorary chairman of an earthquake relief committee that raised $150,000 and gathered nearly 26 tons of relief supplies. Tragically, on New Year's Eve, he died when the plane he was on to deliver the supplies crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.

Dolores Huerta

Huerta created the United Farm Workers, an organization that worked tirelessly to improve the working conditions for farm workers. By leading boycotts, picketing, protesting and lobbying, Huerta was instrumental in bringing about legislation that protects some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Sonia Sotomayor

Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor is herself testament to resilience. Raised in a single parent household in New York City, Sotomayor went on to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton, go to Yale Law School, and from there, become first a U.S. District Court Judge, and then a Supreme Court Justice. Indeed, Sotomayor became the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history. During her time in the Supreme Court, Sotomayor has worked tirelessly to be a voice for women and ethnic minorities in criminal justice reform.

Cesar Chavez

Chavez was a civil rights, Latino and farm labor leader. He employed nonviolent means to bring attention to the plight of farmworkers and formed both the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers. Chavez was a common man with an uncommon vision, who stood for equality, justice and dignity for all Americans. His universal principals remain as relevant and inspiring today as they were when he first began his movement.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

A Pulitzer Prize, Grammy, Emmy, Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, and actor, Miranda is the creator and original star of Broadway’s “Hamilton” and “In the Heights,” and the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award and 2018 Kennedy Center Honors. Aside from his star-studded accolades, Miranda has also been an active supporter of relief efforts in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria. He went so far as to bring the “Hamilton” production to San Juan in 2019, while also reprising his lead role to raise funds for the island.