Adelina, the Politician

In 1922 Adelina won the Republican nomination to run for the US House of Representatives. She was the first Latina to run for national office.
She had all the right credentials to challenge her Democratic (and male) opponent.
Her campaign was sabotaged by her own cousin, former New Mexico Governor Miguel Otero, when he disclosed to the public that Adelina was a divorcée and not a widow like she had been claiming. Adelina knew that if she came forward as a divorcée, it might be a point of contention in her campaign. Because Adelina was a very "modern" woman for her time, her divorce likely did not embarrass her, but instead she wanted voters to judge her  on her professional accomplishments and not her personal matters.
In a mostly Catholic state where divorce was regarded as highly dishonorable, the news came  as quite a disappointment to some of Adelina's supporters. Surely it lost Adelina some votes.
In 1922 every Republican running in New Mexico was defeated by their Democratic opponent, which may not have been the case had the personal information about Adelina remained confidential.

Adelina on the campaign trail in 1922

Adelina, the Cultural Broker

what is truly inspiring about Adelina is her ability to go between two distinct societies in an era where racial tensions were high. She was able to use both her Hispana/Latina roots to her advantage while still maintaining her identity as an American woman. To add to this being a woman of power was also pivotal to our understanding of Adelina, she was a woman of color in power at a time when this was unheard of, add to this being an activist and you have a recipe for one of the most important female figures in New Mexico's history. 

Adelina, Suzana, Anita, and Sonia

Adelina “Nina” Otero- Warren and Susana Martinez are two different Latina women in New Mexico politics.  Anita Martinez, by becoming Dallas’ first Mexican-American voted to City Council became a pioneer herself.    These women have broken through barriers to accomplish things that Latina women could not have accomplished.  Adelina was a pioneer for women’s suffrage in New Mexico and was deeply involved in the educational system of New Mexico in the early 20^th century.  She advocated for bilingual and bi-cultural education.  She was a cultural mediator between her Euro- American and Hispanic roots.  Adelina was able to bridge the gap between her Spanish and Euro- American cultures.  Susana Martinez broke all odds by becoming the first female governor for New Mexico in 2010.  These are the most influential women in Latina Politics.

  Susana Martinez was elected Governor of New Mexico on November 2, 2010, making her the first Latina Governor in United States History (governor.state.nm.us). Prior to being elected governor, she was the District Attorney for Dona Aña County for 14 years (governor.state.nm.us).  Susana has also been named Prosecutor of the Year in April, 2011(governor.state.nm.us).  Susana has paved a way for Latinas who want to get politically involved.  As the first Latina Governor in the United States, this is a huge leap for Latinas everywhere. By being a Latina in a government office, Susana has made great strides for Latinas.  Latinas now see, that they too, can run for office and be elected. Electing Governor Martinez means that the growing number of Latina voters are voting for people who will advocate for their voice.  Latinas are now letting their voices be heard through the democratic channels of voting.  More and more Latinas are being voted into higher political offices by their peers.  No longer is the Latina voice in politics silenced.  They are being heard and making their demands voiced.  To make their voices heard, they are voting for other Latinas such as Susana Martinez. 

Another woman who was a Latina and politically involved was Anita Martinez.  In 1969, she was the first Hispanic person elected to the Dallas City council (Klienberg, Ruiz, Boris, 221).  She was a long time community advocate and pushed for the city government to be more accountable to the needs of its residents.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor is currently serving as the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. She is from the Bronx, NY and  she was educated at Princeton and Yale. She was appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama and his Senate. 

Susana Martinez

                                                              Adelina Otero-Warren

Anita Martinez

                                                             Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Adelina in the Fight for Bilingual Education

Adelina Otrero-Warren was an accomplished woman in many ways. Advocating for bicultural education is only one of them. She called for a curriculum than incorporated the customs and traditions of Hispanos. She fought for equal education for Hispanas and vocational training in traditional Hispano art and crafts. She spent her life promoting bilingual education and felt that it broadened her students perspectives. Hispanos today could learn a lot from Adelina's example, and should continue to advocate for equal education for all.

Because I Identify As Chicana... A poem

Because I identify as Chicana, Latina, Hispana, you try to oppress me

Because I don't identify with Caucasian and choose my own definition, you try to oppress me.

Because I speak two languages Ingles y Español, you try to oppress me.

Because my books speak of Mexicano y Hispano Solidarity, you try to oppress me.

You say I'm illegal, yet my people have been here for centuries and this land was once Mexico, you try to oppress me.

You take away my books that teach me of my culture, my traditions, so you try to oppress me.

In Arizona, I can get arrested for driving while brown, and you ask me for my papers, you try to oppress me.

Because I don't bow to your cultural and societal norms, you try to oppress me.

Because my culture is rich with tradition, you try to oppress me.

Because my eyes, hair, and skin are brown like the earth that birthed me, you try to oppress me.

Because my last name you cannot say, you try to oppress me.

You try to oppress me because you do not understand me, mi vida, mi culture, mi raza. You will not oppress my people and me; we are resistant and resilient, we will not bow to your demands; we will fight on and fight for our raza against your oppression.

Ashley Aragon