FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2021
NAHJ to induct champions of Latinx storytelling into national hall of fame
Washington D.C. – The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) believes in recognizing the legacies of those who have been overlooked by mainstream history. This year, NAHJ will honor two pioneering journalists who paved the way for Latinos in the journalism industry. Jovita Idár and Jesús Colón will be posthumously inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame for dedicating their lives and careers to advocating for the fair and accurate representation of Latinos in news. Both champions of Latinx storytelling, they will be honored at the 2021 Hall of Fame Gala on the evening of Saturday, July 17.
A native of Laredo, TX, Jovita Idár was born into a family that exposed injustices such as the lynchings of Mexican-Americans through her father’s Spanish-language newspaper, La Crónica. She went on to use her platform as a journalist between 1910-1930 to report on and advocate for Mexican-American and women’s rights by condemning racism, and advocating for women’s right to vote. With her family, she created the First Mexican Congress, a convention that addressed civil rights issues related to education and economic resources for their community, which were routinely ignored by the state of Texas and U.S. federal government. She was a vocal defender of the right to free speech and often criticized the legislature for their discriminatory policies. Jovita dedicated her life to giving voice to the concerns of her community and people, who rarely, if ever, heard or saw themselves represented in the news fairly. Through her stories, she illuminated her community’s struggle as she wrote about the discrimination and violence aimed at Mexican-Americans in the border regions during the first decades of the 20th century and shone a light on those who had failed to protect the rights of Latinos and Latinas.
She was a revolutionary of her day, battling oppression, inequality and discrimination so that her stories could be heard. NAHJ is proud to enshrine her legacy in the National Hall of Fame as a reminder to all past, present and future journalists of the impact their work can have in the fight for a more equal nation.
Jesús Colón, born in Puerto Rico in 1901, raised awareness through his writings about the hardships he faced and his identity as a Puertorriqueño. In the late 1920s, Colón founded a Spanish language newspaper, but he would go on to write in both Spanish and English throughout a career that spanned more than four decades. His work inspired many other writers, and eventually, set the stage for the literary movement known as the “Nuyorican Movement.” Active in the political community, Jesús used his words to bring justice to New York City’s Puerto Rican community because he understood that the migrant’s quest for equality in the United States could not be separated from Puerto Rico’s colonial status. He spent his life raising consciousness and fighting for his community in New York and advocating for the rights of those living in Puerto Rico. His stories about his personal struggles as a Black Puerto Rican, touched and inspired many writers, but his contributions are rarely acknowledged in historical literature. Jesús was a trailblazer and a mentor to those who followed in his footsteps. NAHJ is proud to honor and immortalize him in the Hall of Fame.
Both inductees are role models who embody strength, resilience and compassion. Their storytelling provided the country with a more nuanced and complex picture of Hispanic and Latinx culture and experiences in the United States, yet their contributions are too often left out of the broader national narrative. They courageously fought to elevate important issues of discrimination, racism and political inequity in their communities and beyond. Their words and work served as the catalyst for important changes in our country, and opened doors for future Latinx storytellers.
“Both Jovita Idár and Jesús Colón have been a huge part of our history, but have not had enough recognition for the change that they ignited,” said Mc Nelly Torres, national general at-large officer and this year’s chair of the Hall of Fame committee. “We believe inducting both highly inspiring journalists into the NAHJ Hall of Fame will motivate and encourage the young generation to change the world. At the same time, we need to honor and recognize our own and what they have contributed to journalism.”
NAHJ is honored to recognize Jovita and Jesús in the wake of a movement for greater racial justice in the United States that has reminded the country of the continued inequities faced by people of color. NAHJ is committed to preserving their accomplishments in the Hall of Fame and uplifting the work of these pioneers who continue to inspire journalists today.
“It is with deep pride that NAHJ takes responsibility for preserving the history and culture of the Latinx communities by celebrating the outstanding minds that have changed laws and created movements,” commented NAHJ President Nora López. “With the induction of both Jovita and Jesús into the NAHJ Hall of Fame, the association renews its vow to protect the legacy of our community.”
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About the NAHJ
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is the largest organization of Latino journalists in the United States and dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry. The mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latinos in the newsrooms and to work toward fair and accurate representation of Latinos in the news media. Established in April 1984, NAHJ created a national voice and unified vision for all Hispanic journalists. NAHJ has over 3,300 members, including working journalists, journalism students, other media-related professionals, and journalism educators. For more information please visit NAHJ.org or follow on Twitter @NAHJ.
Media Contact:
BA Snyder
Veritas Group for NAHJ
512.630.6337
BA@TheVeritasWay.com