I first saw my mother as a community leader in the migrant farmworker community that traveled around the country cultivating and harvesting crops. As an example, at the age of 19, she had the powerful responsibility of managing the scales that weighed the sacks full of cotton that determined the pay for the laborers in the field.
She also could preach the gospel with the best of them during church services. Her ability to inspire and move the congregation with those sermons made me think of her as more than just my mother.
It did not matter that, according to a lot of people, women were not supposed to take the pulpit and act as a minister. She moved in the world of men and found a way to manage and be successful.
Mom’s leadership and drive became a legend in the farmworker community because of what she did for people and the seemingly complicated issues she found a way to resolve. The highlight of her work was providing leadership in navigating sexism, racism and discrimination in restaurants and other public establishment and most of all, at home.
To me she is an example of the emerging power of women in American life. She was a patriot fighting to right a wrong in a different battlefield.
As I look around the political landscape of America today, I find women with an edge, with an attitude, looking to overcome the last major hurdles to achieve the space men have taken for granted. Roe v. Wade shows that there is still a ways to go to achieve that space.
The mobilization of women for the 2022 election campaigns shows that they have learned that the place to change their condition is in the public arena and through political action. The movement for change in status goes hand in hand with the current effort to make democracy the centerpiece of this election.
This reminds me of when my mother weighed in on the Federico Pena campaign for Mayor in 1983 by going into the neighborhoods to find votes for the candidate. The theme of Pena’s candidacy and the “Si se puede” attitude of everyone around him led to a runoff vote against Mayor McNichols who was going for another term.
Before the runoff, there was a small window of time available to register more voters. This led to a funny moment at the voter registration desk downtown when a woman who had never registered or voted before was asked about her party affiliation. She proudly answered, “Federico Pena.” As it turned out, the five thousand registrations my mother helped to gather was the difference in Pena’s victory over the incumbent.
The development of the American character is based in part on principles like individual self-reliance and pride in accomplishments that serve to differentiate one from another. Unfortunately, the opportunity to be that individual has historically not been extended to women. America is in the process of turning an important corner with regard to this theme as it seeks to revitalize its status in its civilization. The process envisions a prominent role for women and the emerging minority-majority demographic structure in the country.
The gradual change in the last half of the 20th Century is turning into a fierce political competition. Those that want to hold on to the status quo are fighting back with everything they have.
Women as political warriors are slowly gaining the upper hand. Their issues will be the country’s themes in time.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
