Learn with Mel Hern

For decades, the name César Chávez has been synonymous with La Causa . His image graces our murals, his name adorns our schools, and his birthday is a holiday we celebrate with pride. But today, the Latino community is grappling with a different kind of truth, one that is painful, messy, and deeply unsettling. Recent investigations have revealed allegations of sexual assault, grooming, and abuse by Chávez. These accounts include survivors who were minors at the time and, most poignantly, a harrowing testimony from Dolores Huerta . As we process this, we are forced to ask: How do we reconcile the man who fought for the dignity of the poor with the man accused of stripping women of their own? The Betrayal of "La Causa" It is okay to feel betrayed. It is okay to feel a sense of mourning for the hero we thought we knew. For many Latinos, Chávez wasn't just a leader; he was a symbol of our collective power. To learn of these allegations feels like a strike against the very ...

Growing up Mexican-American in the United States, for many of us, was growing up to be White. I was raised In South Texas, in a predominantly brown town, but let’s be real…the town was run by the minority White folks. So, to say that I fully embraced my culture, my history, would be a lie. I was more White than I should have been. From the time I was born, the society in which my ancestors fought in wars for tried to rid me of my heritage. Forget that my Great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were veterans and saw bloodshed for this country and forget that my ancestors where here long before Texas became Texas. None of that matters when you are growing up brown in America. Why is that? Why are our White brothers and sisters so scared of allowing us an equal playing field? Stop right there if you think we have always had equality because if you do, you are sadly mistaken. Let me give you a brief history of my family’s field and you decide if I have had an equal chance at life. Were ...