When you are organizing a group of people, the first thing that

Hearken, O children of the earth and seekers of justice, and attend the words of Dolores Huerta, who spoke with the wisdom of one who has guided the hands and hearts of many: “When you are organizing a group of people, the first thing that we do is we talk about the history of what other people have been able to accomplish—people that look like them, workers like them, ordinary people, working people—and we give them the list: these are people like yourself; this is what they were able to do in their community.” In these words lies a meditation upon the power of history, example, and inspiration, a teaching that true strength arises when ordinary souls recognize their capacity to effect extraordinary change.

Huerta, a leader of the farmworkers’ movement, understood that courage and action do not spring forth in a vacuum. People need to see themselves reflected in the stories of those who came before them, to understand that the walls of oppression can be challenged, and that victories are not reserved for the few, but are attainable by the many. To give the community a list of accomplishments by those who are like them is to kindle a fire of hope, to ignite the understanding that ordinary people have shaped history and can shape it again.

Consider the example of the United Farm Workers, co-founded by Huerta and César Chávez. The workers, toiling under harsh conditions in the fields of California, were inspired by the victories of other labor movements and by the examples of courageous individuals who had fought for fairness in their own communities. By recounting the history of these achievements—strikes won, contracts secured, dignity reclaimed—Huerta and Chávez taught their followers that resistance was not futile, that their collective power could bring justice. History became a lantern, illuminating the path of action and courage.

Huerta’s words remind us that inspiration must be rooted in tangible reality. It is not enough to speak in abstractions; people must see themselves in the stories told, recognize their own faces and struggles in the victories of others. The power of example transforms fear into determination, apathy into action, and silence into the chorus of change. By telling workers of those who have overcome adversity, we affirm the human potential inherent in every individual to contribute to the greater good.

The teaching extends beyond labor movements or community organizing; it applies to every realm of human endeavor. Whether in education, politics, or civic life, showing people the history of those who have walked similar paths empowers them to act. Consider the women of the suffrage movement, whose struggles, recorded and recounted, inspired future generations to claim the right to vote, to advocate for equality, and to participate fully in the governance of their nations. History, Huerta reminds us, is a tool of empowerment.

From her insight emerges practical guidance: when seeking change, begin with stories. Teach the history of achievements by those who mirror the lives of your audience. Demonstrate that ordinary people, bound by shared struggles, can achieve extraordinary outcomes. Let your narratives inspire action, instill courage, and cultivate belief that collective effort can reshape the structures of society. History is not merely memory; it is a call to present action.

Huerta’s words also illuminate the moral power of example. By recounting what others have accomplished, we reinforce the values of perseverance, solidarity, and justice. Each victory, however small, becomes a testament to human possibility, a spark that can ignite movements, change hearts, and transform communities. Ordinary people, when guided by historical example, discover within themselves the extraordinary capacity to act and to lead.

Thus, remember: the first step in empowering a people is to show them their own reflection in history. Tell the stories of courage, of victories hard-won, and of communities transformed. Let each individual recognize that they are part of a continuum of human effort, that the power to act lies within, and that the deeds of ordinary men and women can ripple across time, reshaping the destiny of their communities and the world. Dolores Huerta’s words are both teaching and charge: history is not merely to be remembered—it is to be wielded as a tool of inspiration, empowerment, and collective action.

If you wish, I can also craft a more dramatic, audio-ready version, vividly illustrating the farmworkers’ struggles, victories, and Huerta’s organizing methods, making her message even more stirring and immersive for listeners. Do you want me to do that next?