The social justice movements of the 1960s brought about sweeping changes across the U.S., and Latinos contributed on the front-line at marches, teach-ins, and strikes. For example, thousands of Latinos attended the March on Washington, in part because of one important Boricua activist...
Gilberto Gerena ValentĂn, president of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, met with Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss the March on Washington. Bert Corona and Reies Tijerina helped MLK plan a march for The Poor People’s Campaign that never took place because of Dr. King’s murder.
Mexican American folk singer Joan Baez performed “We Shall Overcome” at the March on Washington, and Johanna Fernández worked for racial equality with the Young Lords Party. These Latinos are just some who helped pave the way for a better society for all of us.
