Rita Moreno’s first foray into social justice was sitting in on the March on Washington with Martin Luther King, Jr. “I was there when he uttered the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” she said. She continued to be a conscious activist throughout her career, fighting for Latine and women’s rights.
Written Features
Rita Moreno biography and timeline
The divided states of “America” – why Rita Moreno objected to West Side Story’s original lyrics
Rita Moreno won her EGOT status with these 4 roles
5 Rita Moreno roles you may have forgotten
3 life lessons from Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno Q&A: Her career from Puerto Rico to Hollywood
Mariem Pérez Riera’s Director’s Statement
Declaración de la Directora Mariem Pérez Riera
Our Rita: How Rita Moreno’s Puerto Rican roots changed American culture
Video Features
Clip | How Rita Moreno became a social activist
Clip | Rita Moreno gives one of the shortest Oscars speeches ever
Clip | Rita Moreno on facing sexism in the industry
Clip | Rita Moreno’s mother inspired her “One Day at a Time” role
Clip | Behind the Scenes | Rita Moreno
Clip | Lin-Manuel Miranda on his first viewing of “West Side Story”
TRANSCRIPT
(upbeat music) - My first major experience was on the March on Washington.
When I sat no less than 15 feet from Dr. Martin Luther King.
(crowd clapping) - And 100 years later, the Negro still is not free.
- I was there when he uttered the 'I Have a Dream' speech.
- We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the fifth victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality.
- I loved being listened to when I was saying very, very important things that I had never thought of before.
To the Negro kids, to the Puerto Rican kids, to the Chinese kids, to every nationality, listen to this.
Wear your nationality like a flag.
Be proud of it.
Be proud you're Puerto Rican, be proud you're Negro. (crowd cheering)
