“American Pachuco: The Legend of Luis Valdez,” the recent Sundance-awarded film, reminds us how little those outside of the Chicano and Latino communities know about their lives — and when there are efforts by those communities to hold up their hopes, their struggles, their humanity, we all too often respond with ignorance and trivialization, or worse, a fearful degradation of their humanity that seeks their removal from our presence.

Into this historical and seemingly never-ending cycle, someone occasionally breaks through and offers us a glimpse of humanity — the humanity of others and our own humanity — and we are all the better for it. Dolores Huerta was one such blessing for many.

Her witness with and to the farmworkers of California through the creation and leadership of the United Farm Workers union was an inspiration to thousands upon thousands........

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