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With the economy continuing to be in the grips of an epic recession, women have often faced underreported hardships. Nationally, the unemployment rate for women has risen to 6.7 percent. In California, when women are working, they comprise 68 percent of minimum wage jobs holders. Prior to the current recession, women suffered unequal pay for equal work prompting President Obama to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Act into law. With such disparities in mind, legendary Chicana activist Elizabeth “Betita” Martinez will be speaking before local unions, community organizations, and high school students about the importance of women of color organizers and activists. Most recently, she authored an article in Z magazine highlighting the efforts of women domestic workers to earn labor rights. Martinez, herself an activist and educator, is the author of numerous books including her latest work “500 Years of Chicana Women’s History.” Over the course of her career, Martinez has been as a researcher for the United Nations on Africa, served with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee as part of the Civil Rights Movement, and co-founded the newspaper “El Grito de Norte,” during the Chicano Movement. After decades of activism, Angela Davis has described Martinez as “inimitable, irrepressible,” and “indefatigable.” Commemorating Women’s History Month, Uprising producer Gabriel San Roman spoke with Betita Martinez yesterday.

GUEST: Gabriel San Roman interviews Betita Martinez, legendary Chicana activist and writer, author of “500 Years of Chicana Women’s History.”

There will be a multi-media dialogue and book signing with Betita Martinez on Wednesday March 11th from 7 – 9 pm, Teamsters 952 Union Hall, 140 South Marks Way, Orange CA. There is a suggested donation of $10 per person, and $5 per student. Martinez’s books will be available for sale at the event.