Dolores Huerta Stands Strong. Marlene Targ Brill

      AS A YOUNG GIRL and teenager, Dolores rarely conformed to other people’s standards. Instead, she followed the path she believed was right, often going against her community’s strict traditional rules for what girls and women could or could not do. She helped in her mother’s grocery store, restaurant, and hotel together with her brothers. After high school graduation, she pursued an education at Stockton Junior College, something her mother encouraged. This was an unusual direction for a Mexican American teen in the 1940s, particularly a girl.

      Discrimination and poverty forced most of her classmates from elementary school to drop out when they reached high school. This thought never occurred to Dolores; her family placed a high value on education. Because of her family’s support, she never minded being the only Chicana in her college classes. She often surprised classmates by her willingness to speak her mind during discussions.

      When Dolores turned seventeen, Alicia took her to Mexico City. This was her first trip to a Mexican community outside the United States. The experience increased her pride in her Mexican heritage. It also opened her eyes to the amount of discrimination Chicanas faced at home.

      Back in California, her frustration about not being accepted pushed her to join Chicano organizations. These groups mainly held dances and fiestas. Music and special foods were an important part of her Mexican heritage, but Dolores wanted action—and change. Although injustices that she witnessed began to gnaw at her, she found no outlet for these feelings.

      Dolores did follow custom in one area. During college, she took a break from classes to marry a high school boyfriend, Ralph Head, just before her twentieth birthday. Within a short time, they had two daughters, Celeste and Lori. But the marriage did not last long. After the divorce, Dolores and her daughters moved in with Alicia. As an independent single mother herself, Alicia understood the difficulties Dolores faced. She helped support the small family with money and encouragement. Both allowed Dolores to continue college and receive an associate of arts degree.

      After college, Dolores tried a variety of jobs. She worked at the naval supply base in Stockton as the commander’s secretary. She also handled records for the sheriff’s office. Each job taught her practical business skills, but both left her unfulfilled. So Dolores returned to the University of the Pacific to earn a teaching certificate.