Lost Leader in History: The Transforming and Empowering Partnership of Dolores Huerta & César Chávez

Abstract

By using Agenda Setting Theory and investigating documented history of the Grape Strike Movement (1960-1970), rhetorical strategies of Dolores Huerta and César Chávez are revealed. By comparing the rhetorical strategies of Huerta and Chávez, it is clear that both leaders contributed differently and equally to the Grape Movement. The focus of this study is to research what significant rhetorical role Huerta played during the most successful boycott in the history of the United States. Despite her key role, Huerta as organizer, negotiator, and political activist, has not been recognized by the print media and mass media. Through a rhetorical criticism and textual analysis of documented historical events, interviews, and speeches, we discover the synergy and complimentary contributions Huerta made to the Great Social Movement of the United Farm Workers. In addition, we discover a new rhetorician and a significant historical figure.