So much work to do, so little time, right? If you’re like me, you love discovering and supporting people and organizations doing great activist work. In honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, I wanted to share my favorite Latinx Activists on Instagram!
Follow these Latinx Activists on Instagram accounts to be inspired to continue en la lucha!
Aint I Latina? – @aintilatina
Janel Martinez is the founder of Ain’t I Latina? and her Instagram feed is full of information about what being Afro Latina means, the Afro-Latinx experience in the Latinx community, and having deep and tough conversations on Latinidad and being black in Latinx spaces. Janel’s feed is also one of celebration of contributions of Afro Latinas to our community. She celebrates la gente negra, their contributions to art, literature, political discourse and more and speaks out against racial discrimination.
Brown Badass Bonita – @brownbadassbonita
Brown Badass Bonita have a mission to empower brown girls to love themselves, with, what they call “revolutionary self love.” And yes, self-love when you come from communities that have been colonized, discriminated against, when your identity comes in question, when you’re not enough of this and too much of that, and so much more- self love is of utmost important. We need to love ourselves because when we do, we can bring that love to others. You can’t be an activist for others if you don’t love yourself first.
Carolina Rubio MacWright – @carustol
Carolina is an artist, activist and lawyer. She uses art to teach immigrant communities about their rights through her nonprofit Touching Land (of which I am a proud supporter). Carolina’s feed shares information on what is happening on immigration, on the legal front, opportunities for us to get involved, and reminders that we practice joy as an act of resistance. Check out her Ted Talk here.
Diane Guerrero – @dianeguerrero
You may know Diane Guerrero from OITNB or as Lina, Jane the Virgin’s BFF. But, did you that this lady is a fierce advocate for the Latinx community and an accomplished author? I read Diane Guerrero’s autobiography “In the Country We Love” the week it was released. I think there was something about her story that I was curious about, because at one point in my life I was in a mixed-status family, though I was too little to realize it.
If you follow Diane’s Instagram account, you’ll see she drops truths about the Latinx community (like, let’s talk about colorism, shall we?), gives you great book recs, and shares truth bombs by other awesome people like Patrisse Cullors-Brignac, co-founder of Black Lives Matter.
Dolores Huerta – @doloreshuerta
The OG of Latinx activists, dare I say? I do! I firmly believe this. I want to be like Dolores Huerta when I grow up. Dolores has been an activist all her life, and is still going strong at ___ years young. I got a chance to meet her in person last year and her aura is inspiring. DYK she is a mom of ___ children? You may know that Dolores fought alongside Cesar Chavez for farmworkers in the 60s, and her activism continues to this day. She fights for immigrant rights, and is not afraid to say, ORGANIZE, CANVASS, SÍ SE PUEDE. Meeting her last year was one of the highlights of my life. (Listen to Latina to Latina’s episode with Dolores here).
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Indigenous People’s Movement – @indigenouspeoplem
Many of us grew up not embracing our indigenous roots. Today, we are lucky to be in a moment where we are going back to learning about the indigenous wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors.
This account will help you think critically, unlearn things we’ve been taught, and learn about the indigenous communities all over the Americas.
Jessica Morales Rocketto – @jesslivmo
Jessica Morales Rocketto has been called a “political ninja.” She is not afraid to use her voice to tell it like it is. She has experience working with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton’s campaign, with several organizations doing great work. She is unapologetically Latina and shares her story to empower us all.
Jolt Action – @jolt_action
Jolt is doing great work on civic engagement in a key battleground state, Texas. Follow Jolt to stay up to date on what they’re working on and ideas on how you can get involved.
Julissa Arce – @julissaarce
You may know Julissa Arce as an immigrants rights activist, who became famous when she detailed her life on Wall Street as an undocumented immigrant in the book “My (Underground) American: My True Story as an Undocumented Immigrant Who became a Wall Street Executive.”
Julissa’s feed is fire. She drops fun tidbits about Latinx culture (why do we eat caldo when it’s 90 degrees?) but also holds truth to power and demands accountability from our leaders who so often forget to include the Latinx community — for example, why wasn’t Julian Castro a speaker at the DNC? Julissa is working on her third book, so keep an eye out for that!
Keep raising your voice, Julissa!
Latinas En Activism – @latinasenactivism
Latinas en Activism’s mission is to elevate the voices of BIPOC. This account will keep you up to date on issues that should be on your radar, with beautiful images and illustrations you’ll surely want to repost! #BlackLivesMatter • #ProChoice • #Feminist • #FreeTheFamilies
Latinas Poderosas – @latinaspoderosas
Being Latina is all about celebrating who we are, and empowering each other, amirite? Latinas Poderosas’ feed will have you doing just that… you can also shop the stores for some cositas to show your Latina pride, and learn some cool facts about our history and the beauty of our complex identities.
The Luz Collective – @theluzcollective
The Luz Collective is on a mission: to challenge false and inaccurate media narratives that exist about Latinas. They are committed to sharing Latina stories and investing in our potential. They not only have a site with beautifully written content by Latinas, but they also have an awesome shop where you can buy gear that says “Allergic to Machismo” and Latina AF tees that are definitely on my wishlist. wink wink.
Make the Road NY – @maketheroadny
As a New Yorker, I love the work that Make the Road NY is doing! They are not afraid to hold elected officials accountable, they raise their voices for our immigrant community, they fight for justice and fight for workers demanding they get access to fair wages. They fight for our communities to have access to good working conditions to achieve dignity and justice.
MamásConPoder – @mamasconpoder
MamásConPoder is the Spanish language account of MomsRising. They work to lift up families, women and children. They have actions all over the USA, and you’ll definitely find ways to get involved on their campaigns on immigration, voting, juvenile and maternal justice and so much more.
Maria Hinojosa – @maria_la_hinojosa
Many might say, journalists shouldn’t be activists… but Maria Hinojosa is proof that you can use your journalistic prowess to hold those in power accountable, to call out lawmakers, to call bull when you see it, to demand answers and demand that we do better. That is exactly what Maria Hinojosa does on her Instagram account, on her podcasts, on her Twitter feed (basically, I’m saying, follow her everywhere).
Maria’s book “Once I Was You” is being released on Sept. 15th – so preorder your copy now!
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Monica Ramirez – @activistmonicaramirez
Last year I went to DC for Latina Equal Pay Day to meet this beautiful lady. Monica Ramirez is an inspiration: she is a tireless advocate for the Latinx communities, in particular Latinx women and farmworkers. Monica has co-founded not one, but MANY orgs: (many which are on this list!) @mujerxsrising, @campesinasunite, @thelatinxhouse @she_sepuede
I want to be like Monica when I grow up 😉
Mujerxs Rising – @mujerxsrising
This account will open your eyes to those brave mujeres who we don’t often think about… those using their hands to cultivate the land and make sure that food gets to our supermarkets. It’s our duty as Latinas to know their stories and to support them. Follow this account to have learn more about these essential workers who quite literally feed us, and get involved to shine a light on their hard work and what they need to thrive.
Paola Mendoza – @paolamendoza
I had been following Paola since I heard about her film Entre Nos, but I remember when she moved me so much and I fell in love with her as an activist. It was when I heard her interview with Alicia Menendez on Latina to Latina. (Totally recommend that if you haven’t heard it yet).
Paola Mendoza is an artist, filmmaker and activist. You may know her as a co-founder of the Soze Agency as well, or as part of the amazing women who sang Las Tesis song during the Harvey Weinstein trial. or, maybe you’ve seen her seen as part of the Resistance Revival Chorus.
Quite simply, Paola Mendoza is a badass activist who will move you with all her posts, and her work. Her latest venture is a book called Sanctuary that is definitely on my list to read soon, a story about a 16-year-old undocumented girl and her brother set in a dystopian future.
Roots of South LA – @rootsofsouthla
I recently discovered Roots of South LA and I’m so glad I did. At first glance, you may be wondering why I put them on a list of Latinx Activists on Instagram– is this really an activist account? But see, a theme I have discovered in my work on my podcast and being in the activist space is the need to 1. rest, 2. heal and 3. as a community, heal from ancestral trauma. I think as Latinas it is important to learn about and discover our ancestral roots, so I love what Roots of South LA is doing to inspire us all to dig deep, heal and get in touch with our ancestral knowledge.
Roots of South LA’s feed will feed your soul and mind.
She Se Puede @she_sepuede
She Se Puede wants to know: We CAN do it– ALL. SI SE PUEDE, we can. This organization was cofounded by Monica Ramirez (also on this list!) and Eva Longoria, among others.
Voto Latino – @votolatino
Voto Latino mobilizes to register and get Latinos to the polls. The feed will keep you up to date on what’s happening in swing states, how you can get involved, what is happening with this administration and its treatment of the Latinx community. (see below). Voto Latino is definitely a must-follow account. (Psss.. are you registered to vote?)
WeAllGrow Latina – @weallgrowlatina
Y como decimos en español, vamos a cerrar con broche de oro. At first glance, you may not categorize WeAllGrow Latina’s Instagram feed as an activist feed but I’m here to tell you, look again. First, WAG’s mission is to empower and elevate the voices of Latinas in the United States, something they’ve been doing since 2010. They’ve been talking about Latinx purchasing power, the need to include Latinos in media, and everywhere since its creation. They’ve been lifting up the voices of Latinas and creating a sisterhood of Latinas where we all feel welcome.
Second, I have loved being part of the transformation (dare I call it that?) in recent years where I see activism, combatting racism, speaking up against this administration, front and center. I love seeing how they are working to lift the voices in our community who are doing the work on the ground through their IG lives, partnerships with other orgs and activists on this list (like @Carustol and @MamasConPoder) and through their online community, WeAllGrow Amigas. (don’t know what that is? Check it out here and join us!)
So, to end this post, I’m going to quote WeAllGrow Latina and say, go follow everyone on this list, because
when one grows, we all grow.
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