National Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating Antonia Hernández

By: Noor Al-Baghdadi

Would it be too bold to say that American national and cultural identity would not be what it is today without the contributions of People of Color throughout the nation’s history? I think it would be bold to say otherwise. At its most rudimentary level, America’s Indigenous, Black, and Brown history was vital to its establishment and development. Despite this, the contributions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are often overlooked. They have been overlooked in every aspect of American policy and identity. Very rarely has there been a space for BIPOC in America to feel welcomed or seen in the political, social, and economic sphere. It becomes even harder for women to have spaces made for or even welcoming of them, which is especially true for women of color America owes much of its progress- whether that be cultural, social, political, or economic progress, women of color have been crucial.

The story is the same for Latina women. Throughout the history of shaping America’s national identity and its cultural standards, Latina women have been greatly influential figures. As a marginalized community, there was no space that was curated for them or even inclusive of their identity. For a country that annexed Indigenous Latino land to expand its territory, America lagged in its progress in recognizing the contributions of Latinx people. Even when it did, it was conditional. Several million Latinx people live in American territory, a population that grew exponentially over the past century. And yet, it wasn’t until the mid-20th century- not even 60 years ago- that the United States began making efforts to make the public education system more inclusive to children who did not speak English. This is no shock as the Civil Rights Movement had just occurred and federal law recently superseded segregation. It should still not sit comfortably with us that our grandparents, and even some of our older relatives and parents, were alive and experienced life separated from those who didn’t look like them on the basis that they were “not equal.” Needless to say, it was disturbingly recently that the Bilingual Education Act (BEA) was passed, which law that provided funding to states to support educational programs for children who spoke limited English, the primary language of education in the US. It was Latinx people, and more importantly, Latina women that we have to recognize for the establishment and implementation of the act. A critical figure to recognize for the upholding of the act is Antonia Hernández.

Antonia Hernández was born in Torreón, Mexico in 1948 and immigrated to the United States with her family as a child. She grew up in East Los Angeles, where she experienced firsthand the discrimination and challenges Latinos face in the United States. Through her experience in the United States, Hernández's commitment to social justice began at a young age. Her parents were both active in the civil rights movement, which encouraged her own activism. Chicana feminist leaders at the time including Gloria Molina and Dolores Huerta have also become role models for Hernández’s journey. This upbringing inspired her to be a social activist and pursue multiple degrees before becoming an attorney with the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice. She later sat on the council for the senate's judiciary counsel, becoming the first Latina to do so. After graduating from college, Hernández attended law school at Yale University. After graduating from law school, she began her career as a staff attorney with the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice. She went on to serve as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary before joining the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) in 1981. From 1981-2004, Hernández served as president of MALDEF. During her time at MALDEF, she led the organization in several landmark victories, including major strides to uphold the Bilingual Education Act. Hernández herself played a significant role in being vocal and active in bilingual education initiatives. Hernández’s story encapsulated the Latina experience in the United States. Being excluded, discriminated against, and othered. And then creating a space for your community in a country that didn’t recognize your community in its fullest capacity despite it being built off of your land and socio-economic contributions. Antonia Hernández’s work has blazed a path of better living and reduced inequalities between Latinx people and the dominant white majority. While America still has a long way to go to reach a point where diversity is celebrated rather than discouraged or simply tolerated, the work of Latina woman, Antonia Hernández.