Prominent Hispanic figures inspire pride, social action
October 1, 2023
Roberto Clemente
Baseball player Roberto Clemente was born in 1934 in Puerto Rico. In 1955, he moved to the U.S. and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers’ minor-league system. Clemente excelled quickly and was known for his powerful and accurate arm. His career took off when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he made his major- league debut in 1955. In 1960, he lead the Pirates to a World Series victory. After winning 12 Golden Glove awards, a Most Valuable Player award, and two World Series, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, Clemente faced constant racism from the public, who stereotyped him as lazy because of his ethnicity.
Still, he remained resilient. Clemente devoted much of his time and wealth to supporting the Black and Hispanic communities. During the off-seasons, he ran free clinics for youth in Puerto Rico and became closely involved with the U.S. civil rights movement. He continues to inspire Puerto Ricans and other underrepresented groups around the world.
Frida Kahlo
Artist Frida Kahlo, famous for her bold, colorful self-portraits, was born in 1907 in Mexico City, Mexico. She spent most of her life in her house, “La Casa Azul,” which is now a museum dedicated to her life and work. Childhood struggles with polio, as well as serious injuries from a bus accident, informed her work, which often included wounds, blood and plaster casts.
Kahlo is also known and revered for her dedication to women’s rights. She did not focus on beauty in her self-portraits, but rather on the reality of women’s experiences, including miscarriages, abortion and breastfeeding. Her work thus inspired other women to defy beauty standards. Kahlo was also openly a part of the LGBTQ+ community, which was uncommon during this time period. She lives on as a symbol of Hispanic pride and feminism.
Rita Moreno
Dancer and singer Rita Moreno was born in 1931, in Puerto Rico. She started taking dance lessons at a young age, and her family moved to New York City in 1936.
Moreno made her Broadway debut as Angelina in the play “Skydrift,” and entered the film industry five years later.
However, casting directors mainly placed her in ethnically stereotypical roles, which frustrated her. In 1961, she played Anita, a central character in “West Side Story,” a role that earned her an Oscar and a Golden Globe award. After “West Side Story,” she no longer allowed herself to be cast in stereotypical roles.
As Moreno became famous, she grew more vocal about supporting social justice and ending discrimination. In 1965, she joined a Hollywood delegation and attended the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech. She went on to become the first and only Latina to achieve an “EGOT,” meaning she won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.
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About the Contributor
Zoe Leontis, Social Media Editor
Senior Zoe Leontis is a social media editor for The Oracle and has been on staff since January 2023. She enjoys dancing, drinking coffee and listening to music.