Jovita Idar: Voice of the People

The video tells the story of Jovita Idar, a Mexican American journalist born in 1885 in Laredo, Texas. She grew up learning about the struggles of the Latinx community and initially worked as a teacher. Frustrated by the poor conditions, she became a journalist under the pen name Estreya. In 1914, she bravely opposed U.S. troops sent by President Woodrow Wilson to shut down her newspaper, standing up for freedom of speech. Although her efforts only delayed the closure, her legacy as a civil rights pioneer endures.

What significant historical event influenced Jovita Idar's early life and her community's struggles?

• The Mexican American War of 1846

• The American Civil War

• The Spanish-American War

• The Texas Revolution

Why did Jovita Idar decide to become a journalist?

• She wanted to write novels

• She was inspired by a famous journalist

• She was frustrated with the poor educational conditions

• She wanted to travel the world

Under what pen name did Jovita Idar write?

• Minerva

• Estreya

• Athena

• Hera

What action did Jovita Idar take when soldiers tried to shut down her newspaper?

• She fled the country

• She allowed them to enter

• She stood in their way and refused entry

• She destroyed the newspaper herself

What lasting impact did Jovita Idar's actions have?

• She became a famous novelist

• She founded a new country

• She inspired future generations to value freedom of speech

• She was elected as a political leader