Writer, Historian, & Community Leader

Words by Guadalupe Triana Photos by Eric Morales

Inside Martha Cotera’s office is a grand, wooden bookshelf that displays a colorful array of her most powerful tools to date: books. On the shelf are plenty of influential titles, like La Historia de México and The New Jim Crow, books that have clearly inspired Martha’s work through the years. 

As a professional historian and librarian, Martha’s two occupations have long been intertwined with her work in the community. “Knowledge and information are my strengths,” she explains.

These days, the writer, historian, influential Chicana feminist, and civil rights activist expresses that la lucha sigue. Martha proves that the work is far from over, and her schedule shows it. 

While there might be plenty left to do, it’s also important to step back and acknowledge what’s been achieved. Few can say that they’ve helped shape history—especially when it comes to civil rights in Texas. Even fewer can say their work has opened doors for the women after them.

Through her published works, Martha has cemented her influential status in the Chicana Feminist movement, something she doesn’t take lightly. To Martha, it’s powerful to hear young people boldly claim the feminist label, something that hasn’t always been the case. “This is despite the fact that everything has been done to suppress the power of women.”

Throughout the years, Martha’s been involved in movements and campaigns that sought to ensure that Latinx, along with other disenfranchised BIPOC populations in Austin, received access to the resources they desperately need to succeed. It all clearly inspires her work today. 

“My wish is that Austin would live up to its promise to become a progressive community for everybody,” she explains. 

She credits her inspiration to do lifelong liberation work to a value her mother taught her when she was young: to be servicial, or to be helpful, and service-minded. “I saw people stepping up to help my mother navigate a foreign country, a foreign language—I  was learning from it,” Martha reflects. “I now realize I got those skills by watching people help us.”

Martha is passionate about many of the issues affecting some of the city’s most vulnerable populations, but now there’s one issue she’ll be dedicating extra time to these next few months.

Martha is focused on the reclamation of the historic Palm School and Palm Park on Cesar Chavez Street. She explains that at least nine generations of Mexican American students attended Palm School, making it a significant part of Mexican American history in Austin.

Martha, along with several other community activists, wants to ensure that the space, and the history surrounding it, are properly preserved. 

“Justice calls for an acknowledgment of this rich history,” Martha smiles.

Saving Palm Park
In order to preserve its cultural heritage, many Latinx community leaders are urging the county to transfer ownership of the Palm School building to the Mexican American Cultural Center, which is run by the city. 

Activists want to ensure that the space, and the history surrounding it, are preserved properly. Many are working diligently to ensure the museum also honors indigenous peoples’ history, as well as the often-overlooked Afro Mexican and Underground Railroad legacies. In order for the museum to happen, the county will have to partner with the city.

Contact:
marthapcotera@gmail.com
savepalmschool@gmail.com 
speakupaustin.org/palmdistrict