10 Famous Hispanic Americans Who Made An Impact On The Country

10 Famous Hispanic Americans Who Made An Impact On The Country

In modern culture, there has been a rise in the number of Hispanic Americans who are using their influence to change society. Whether it is in the film industry or in political life. It should be noted that the majority of Hispanic Americans originate from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Aside from the stereotypical Hispanics, there have been a significant number who have made contributions in fields such as sports, science, and politics.

Some of the famous Hispanic Americans who have managed to influence society include Ellen Ochoa, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Lin Manuel Miranda. With their influence on modern culture and hot topics.

1. Selena Quintanilla-Perez

She was an American singer-songwriter and actress known for being the Queen of Tejano music. Aside from being among the successful Latin American artists, she was also a role model to many young people. Selena was born on April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas. Her career began at the age of 10 and since then she has become a well-known star.

In 1992, she released her first English album known as Ven Conmigo. It was an instant success and enabled Selena to join the mainstream American music market. Later in 1994, she was nominated for a Grammy Award.

2. Dolores Huerta

Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

She is a labor leader and civil rights activist known for being the co-founder of the United Farm Workers as well as the Dolores Huerta Foundation. She was born on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. Dolores became famous for being a constant advocate for the rights of farmworkers, women, and other unrepresented groups.

In 1955, she worked with Cesar Chavez to organize farmworkers and defend their rights. They co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962.  Their foundation led to a number of successful strikes and boycotts that helped improve the working conditions of many farmers.

Dolores Huerta has won numerous awards including the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award, the Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

3. Cesar Chavez

He was a labor leader and civil rights activist who was the co-founder of the National Farm Workers Association which became the United Farm Workers. He was born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona. He is famous for his nonviolent activism in order to support the rights of farm workers. Cesar helped in founding the NFWA which strikes and boycotts to improve the working conditions of many farmworkers.

Cesar was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. He also won many important victories such as better working conditions. Through his activism, he has inspired young people and has changed the lives of millions of farm workers.

4. Roberto Clemente

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He was a professional baseball player who was known for playing the right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He was born on August 18, 1934, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Roberto became famous for becoming the best player in the league.

Aside from being a professional baseball player, he was also an outspoken advocate for civil rights as well as the rights of Latin American players. Roberto’s legacy has inspired many young people especially because of his ability to break down barriers for other players of color.

5. Rita Moreno

She is an actress, dancer, and singer. She is known for being the only Hispanic actress who won all four major American entertainment awards. She was born on December 11, 1931, in Humacao, Puerto Rico. She became famous for the classic films Singin’ in the Rain, The King and I, and The Electric Company.

Rita is noted as a true icon of Hispanic-American culture because she was able to break down barriers. She is a strong advocate for social justice and is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Click here to read about the greatest Hispanic artists.

6. Jennifer Lopez

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Also known as J.Lo is an actress, singer, dancer, and businesswoman. Jennifer Lopez is noted for being among the most popular and successful entertainers in the world. She was born on July 24, 1969, in the Bronx, New York City. Her career began when she appeared in a number of music videos and television shows as a dancer.

Jennifer is a famous singer and has released seven studio albums some of which include songs that have topped charts all over the world. Aside from being a famous singer, she has her own clothing line, fragrance line, and production company.

7. Ellen Ochoa

She is an engineer, former astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center. She is noted for being the first Hispanic woman to go to space. Ellen was born on May 10, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. In 1993, she served as a mission specialist aboard the STS-56 mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery which resulted in her becoming the first Latina to be launched into space. Ellen has a total of four space flights and nearly 1,000 hours in space. 

Ellen has won a number of awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Read about famous Hispanic authors here.

8. Lin-Manuel Miranda

Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

He is an actor, songwriter, composer, and singer. He is known for creating the films Hamilton, and In the Heights. He has also created the soundtracks for the animations Moana, and Encanto. Lin-Manuel was born on January 16, 1980, in New York City.

His first musical was In the Heights and it was inspired by his childhood in Washington Heights. The musical won him numerous awards such as the Tony Award and Grammy Award. The film Moana won the Academy Award for the song How Far I’ll Go which was an original song by Miranda.

9. Xolo Mariduena

He is an actor known for his role as Miguel Diaz in the Netflix series Cobra Kai. He was born on June 9, 2001, in Los Angeles, California. Xolo has gained international fame for his upcoming DC superhero film Blue Bettle. He is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. Xolo is an active member of the Latinx Creators Collective which is a group of Latinx actors and filmmakers who are working to create opportunities in Hollywood.

10. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Franmarie Metzler; U.S. House Office of Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 She is a politician who has served as the U.S. Representative of New York’s 14 congressional districts since 2019. She was born on October 13, 1989, in the Bronx, New York City. Alexandria is a leading advocate for progressive policies such as the Green New Deal, and Tuition-free college. She has also shared that she is a strong supporter of labor unions and environmental protection.

Click here to read more about famous Hispanics.

All in all, these people have been able to make a difference in society. Whether it’s being the first to be in a superhero film or the first Latina astronaut, they have paved the way for other Latinos.