Southwest High School – Once a Raider… Always a Raider

WELCOME TO SOUTHWEST HIGH

Raider Reporter

Library Newsletter

Scholarship Info

Principal’s Message

Amazing Raider Families,

“I’m trying as hard as I can to keep pushing the boundaries of what a woman is capable of doing. And it turns out there’s a lot we can do. There’s a lot we can speak about.” ~Rita Moreno~

As we close out Women’s History Month, we focus on the achievement of women in film and TV. The first Latina to win an Oscar is Rita Moreno for her role of Anita in West Side Story. She has also won an Emmy, a Grammy and a Tony, making her the first Latina to be an EGOT; few actors/actresses have this recognition. Women in the entertainment industry experienced discrimination that limited the availability of roles portraying strong women. In a Times interview, Rita Moreno shared that when she started, the only role made available to her was one of a native girl who was portrayed as uneducated and sexy, a role she did not relish and made her feel uncomfortable. She remembered reading scripts and would say, “I would be really good at that.” Her agent would say, “They don’t want to see you in that (role).” She would be heartbroken. She remembered being called racial slurs associated with being Puerto Rican. While she won all these awards, she said that these awards do not define her. She said that these awards represent the all the strife, labor, tears and heartbreak, but they also remind her of the hard work she had to do to earn that. She has no problem saying to today’s generation of actresses that she is envious of them because it is easier for them now because another woman had to break the glass ceiling to make their journey easier. Women in all aspects of their lives have had to fight to be valued and to be viewed as equal contributing members of our society. So, to our female Raiders, remember your worth as a woman. Do not forget that you are standing on the shoulders of women giant such as Rita Moreno, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia Sotomayor, Kentaji Brown Jackson, Ellen Ochoa, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and many more.

Have a great week!

Easter Finley, Principal