Student Curated Biographies

CPMR relies on the brilliance and motivation of many dedicated undergraduate students to preserve, identify, and create new content related to our holdings. These biographies reflect over 5 years' work by students whom have participated via classes, independent studies, and research seminars. Students are entirely responsible for the creation of these biographies and each biography is an ever-expanding, previously unavailable record of knowledge. Please contact us at chicanapormiraza@gmail.com with any concerns or updates to the information displayed here.

Virginia Martinez “I’m not a secretary, I’m an attorney.”

Virginia Martinez is a significant figure in the Chicana feminist movement, a Chicago-native Latina attorney, and an advocate for women and children. Martinez was changing the world from an early age. She went against her family and society’s standards when she applied to law school and became one of the first Latinas to be licensed to practice law in Illinois. When she was in law school, she was one of the founders of the Latino Law Student Association.
Marie "Keta" Miranda "We could consider ourselves Chicana and feminist... This was our legitimation. This was our moment to be understood. That to be feminist was not to be vendida."

Marie “Keta” Miranda was born in Los Angeles, California during a time of— in her words — “urban removal,” not “urban renewal.” Her mother was very involved in church organizing activities, from charities to fiestas. It is through her mother that Keta understood the church to be a place for women where they can “laugh out loud and have a good time with each other.” Her mother was a housewife putting in a lot of labor and love raising eight children, six girls and two boys. Her father worked first as a general laborer, then a postal carrier, and then a tile-setter.
Olivia "Evey" Chapa "People heard the call and came from everywhere. People in these tents and buildings... wherever, teaching the kids so they wouldn't get behind because they walked out. Amazing. It's amazing what people will do when they have a feel for it. El corazón."

Olivia “Evey” Chapa, a lifelong resident of Texas, was born in Alice. Growing up, her supportive family created the foundation for the love she has for other people. She comes from a financially stable family; her grandfather was a banker, her father a police officer, and her mother was a saleslady. The work ethic of her mother and father was well-developed.
Enriqueta Vasquez “I remember I raised my hand right away [and said], ‘My mother said that they stole all that land from Mexico!’”

Enriqueta Vasquez was born in 1930 in Cheraw, Colorado to a large family near the farm labor camps. Her parents were very political, and her mother was a curandera and midwife for the community. Her first experiences with racism took place at school: all the Mexican American children were segregated to one room and taught by only one teacher. The students were punished for speaking Spanish and there were separate swings for the Mexican American and Anglo children. But Enriqueta found her activist voice at a young age.
Yreina Doreen Cervántez "With your passion, you can find your place in the world.”

Yreina Cervántez was born on December 5th, 1952, in Garden City, Kansas. She lived with her mother, father, and younger brother until she was seven. Cervántez remembers that at a very young age, she became aware that things were different for people of color. Fortunately, her parents provided Cervántez with a strong support system that helped her articulate the confusion and alienation she felt growing up in a racist environment. She grew up watching them support the development of the Civil Rights Movement, empathizing with the African American community in their town.