Vilma Socorro Martínez
Encyclopedia
Vilma Socorro Martínez is an American lawyer, civil rights activist and diplomat currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina
. She is the first woman to hold this position.
family in San Antonio, Texas, in 1943, and was raised in a climate of certain racial hostility. An honor student in high school, for example, she found herself steered away from academics by a counselor who tried to convince her that someone of her background would be better off attending a trade school than a major university. Martínez ignored that advice and instead enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin
.
While working her way through college in the biochemistry lab, Martínez met a professor who recognized her potential. In marked contrast to her high-school counselor, the professor insisted she pursue further education; after receiving her bachelor's degree, Martínez went on to Columbia Law School
, and graduated in 1967.
She then joined the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP). In her job, she defended a number of poor and minority clients. She also served as the attorney for the petitioner in the case of Griggs v. Duke Power Company, a landmark action that ultimately went before the U.S. Supreme Court and helped establish the doctrine of affirmative action
.
After spending several years with the NAACP, Martínez left in 1970 to serve as an equal opportunity counselor for the New York State Division of Human Rights
. In this role, she created new rules and procedures governing the rights of employees. She then married a fellow attorney, Stuart Singer, and had two sons, Carlos and Ricardo. In 1971 she joined the firm of Cahill, Gordon & Reindel in New York City, where she worked as a labor lawyer. Martínez and one of her colleagues at Cahill, Grace Olivarez, became the first women to join the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), which was patterned after its counterpart at the NAACP. Soon afterward, in 1973, Martínez was hired as the advocacy organization's general counsel and president.
Inheriting a nearly-insolvent organization, Martínez developed an operating financial framework that helped save the fledgling advocacy group
from insolvency. On the legal front, MALDEF made U.S. civil rights history during Martínez's tenure as general counsel and president when she directed a program that helped secure an extension of the Voting Rights Act
to include Mexican Americans among the groups it protected, overcoming skepticism from both traditional, white conservative groups as well as the NAACP (whose director, Clarence Mitchell
, maintained that expanding the Voting Rights Act to include other groups could weaken its protection of blacks). Martínez, however, secured support from other African American groups, most notably the Congressional Black Caucus
, and in 1975, Congress agreed to extend the existing provisions of the Voting Rights Act to include Mexican Americans.
Martínez also helped obtain a 1974 ruling guaranteeing that non-English-speaking children in public schools could obtain bilingual education and participated in a number of other activities on behalf of Mexican Americans; from 1975 to 1981, for example, she served as a volunteer consultant to the U.S. Census Bureau, implementing the addition of a question as to the respondent's Hispanic origin (its far-reaching effects included the redrawing of numerous electoral districts). Remaining at MALDEF, she accepted an invitation from California Governor Jerry Brown
in 1976 to join that state's Board of Regents
, remaining there until 1990 and serving a two-year term as chairman.
President Jimmy Carter
appointed Martínez to her first position in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, naming her in 1977 to an advisory board that reviewed appointments to ambassadorial positions around the world. She was removed in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan
.
After spending nearly a decade at the helm of MALDEF, Martínez stepped down from her position as president in 1982; having inherited a nearly insolvent association, MALDEF had an annual budget of nearly US$5 million by then, thanks to an increase in the number of corporate sponsors and foundation grants. She accepted a position with a prestigious Los Angeles
law firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson
, and specializing in resolving labor disputes. She became a popular speaker at educational institutions around the United States, including Harvard Law School
, Yale University
, the University of Notre Dame
, and her alma mater, the University of Texas, which honored her with its distinguished alumnus award in 1988. Martínez has received a number of other awards and has been invited to sit on numerous civic and corporate boards, among them Shell Petroleum. She has played an important role with the federal government since the 1990s as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and as a lawyer delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. Martínez received numerous awards during her career, including the American Bar Association
's Margaret Brent Award and the Columbia University
Medal for Excellence.
President Barack Obama
chose Martínez to replace the United States Ambassador to Argentina
, Earl Anthony Wayne
, who was given a humanitarian post in Afghanistan
. Martínez was confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 24, 2009, and presented her credentials to Argentine Foreign Minister
Jorge Taiana
on September 18, becoming the first woman to represent the United States
in Buenos Aires
as Ambassador.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. She is the first woman to hold this position.
Life and career
Vilma Socorro Martínez was born to a Mexican AmericanMexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
family in San Antonio, Texas, in 1943, and was raised in a climate of certain racial hostility. An honor student in high school, for example, she found herself steered away from academics by a counselor who tried to convince her that someone of her background would be better off attending a trade school than a major university. Martínez ignored that advice and instead enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
.
While working her way through college in the biochemistry lab, Martínez met a professor who recognized her potential. In marked contrast to her high-school counselor, the professor insisted she pursue further education; after receiving her bachelor's degree, Martínez went on to Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
, and graduated in 1967.
She then joined the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
(NAACP). In her job, she defended a number of poor and minority clients. She also served as the attorney for the petitioner in the case of Griggs v. Duke Power Company, a landmark action that ultimately went before the U.S. Supreme Court and helped establish the doctrine of affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
.
After spending several years with the NAACP, Martínez left in 1970 to serve as an equal opportunity counselor for the New York State Division of Human Rights
New York State Division of Human Rights
The New York State Division of Human Rights is a New York State agency created to enforce the state's Human Rights Law. The law prohibits discrimination in the provision of housing, employment, credit, and access to certain public places based on specified protected characteristics, which include...
. In this role, she created new rules and procedures governing the rights of employees. She then married a fellow attorney, Stuart Singer, and had two sons, Carlos and Ricardo. In 1971 she joined the firm of Cahill, Gordon & Reindel in New York City, where she worked as a labor lawyer. Martínez and one of her colleagues at Cahill, Grace Olivarez, became the first women to join the board of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), which was patterned after its counterpart at the NAACP. Soon afterward, in 1973, Martínez was hired as the advocacy organization's general counsel and president.
Inheriting a nearly-insolvent organization, Martínez developed an operating financial framework that helped save the fledgling advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
from insolvency. On the legal front, MALDEF made U.S. civil rights history during Martínez's tenure as general counsel and president when she directed a program that helped secure an extension of the Voting Rights Act
Voting Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of national legislation in the United States that outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the U.S....
to include Mexican Americans among the groups it protected, overcoming skepticism from both traditional, white conservative groups as well as the NAACP (whose director, Clarence Mitchell
Clarence Mitchell
Clarence Elmer Mitchell , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in the majors from 1911-1932 for the Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, Brooklyn Robins, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals...
, maintained that expanding the Voting Rights Act to include other groups could weaken its protection of blacks). Martínez, however, secured support from other African American groups, most notably the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
, and in 1975, Congress agreed to extend the existing provisions of the Voting Rights Act to include Mexican Americans.
Martínez also helped obtain a 1974 ruling guaranteeing that non-English-speaking children in public schools could obtain bilingual education and participated in a number of other activities on behalf of Mexican Americans; from 1975 to 1981, for example, she served as a volunteer consultant to the U.S. Census Bureau, implementing the addition of a question as to the respondent's Hispanic origin (its far-reaching effects included the redrawing of numerous electoral districts). Remaining at MALDEF, she accepted an invitation from California Governor Jerry Brown
Jerry Brown
Edmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
in 1976 to join that state's Board of Regents
Board of Regents
In the United States, a board often governs public institutions of higher education, which include both state universities and community colleges. In each US state, such boards may govern either the state university system, individual colleges and universities, or both. In general they operate as...
, remaining there until 1990 and serving a two-year term as chairman.
President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
appointed Martínez to her first position in the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, naming her in 1977 to an advisory board that reviewed appointments to ambassadorial positions around the world. She was removed in 1981 by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
.
After spending nearly a decade at the helm of MALDEF, Martínez stepped down from her position as president in 1982; having inherited a nearly insolvent association, MALDEF had an annual budget of nearly US$5 million by then, thanks to an increase in the number of corporate sponsors and foundation grants. She accepted a position with a prestigious Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
law firm, Munger, Tolles & Olson
Munger, Tolles & Olson
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP is a California law firm that has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Charles Munger founded the firm in 1962 with six other lawyers.-Legal practice:...
, and specializing in resolving labor disputes. She became a popular speaker at educational institutions around the United States, including Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and her alma mater, the University of Texas, which honored her with its distinguished alumnus award in 1988. Martínez has received a number of other awards and has been invited to sit on numerous civic and corporate boards, among them Shell Petroleum. She has played an important role with the federal government since the 1990s as a consultant to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and as a lawyer delegate to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference. Martínez received numerous awards during her career, including the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
's Margaret Brent Award and the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
Medal for Excellence.
President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
chose Martínez to replace the United States Ambassador to Argentina
United States Ambassador to Argentina
The United States Ambassador to Argentina is the official representative of the President of the United States to the head of state of Argentina....
, Earl Anthony Wayne
Earl Anthony Wayne
Earl Anthony Wayne is a United States international policy maker and diplomat. In June, 2011, Wayne was nominated by President Barack Obama to be ambassador to Mexico.-Life and education:...
, who was given a humanitarian post in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Martínez was confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 24, 2009, and presented her credentials to Argentine Foreign Minister
Foreign relations of Argentina
This article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Argentina.At the political level, these matters are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Relations, also known as the Cancillería, which answers to the President...
Jorge Taiana
Jorge Taiana
Jorge Enrique Taiana is an Argentine Justicialist Party politician, formerly Foreign Minister in the government of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, after occupying the same post during the previous government of Néstor Kirchner...
on September 18, becoming the first woman to represent the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
as Ambassador.