Texas Originals

Born in Laredo in 1885, journalist and activist Jovita Idár abandoned a teaching career to write for her father's weekly newspaper, La Crónica. Idár denounced the dismal social, educational, and economic conditions of Texas Mexicans. As an educated Tejana, she felt duty-bound to promote civil rights—including women's rights—and education. "Educate a woman," Idár often said, "and you educate a family."