Olmos encouraged the audience to work for social justice and civil rights movement

Known as the “Olivier of the Latino world,” Edward James Olmos is celebrated for his talent and creativity. He probably is lesser known for his advocacy efforts.

It was advocacy, however, that brought Olmos to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the annual Cesar Chavez lecture, which he titled “We’re All in the Same Gang.”

Olmos has been a vocal advocate for many years, including the launch of a nationwide multimedia project called “Americanos: Latino Life in the United States, a celebration of Latino culture through photography, film, music and the printed word.” He is a U.S. Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF and a national spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

For more than two decades, Olmos has advocated for Latino and Latina communities, but his efforts for social justice transcend racial lines.

Olmos entered Pierson Auditorium to a standing ovation, at which time he humbly thanked the audience, saying “I haven’t even done anything yet, and I get this.”

“I’ve spent my entire adult life trying to realize how in the world are we ever going to come together when we keep on using the word ‘race’ as a cultural determinant,” said Olmos. “There’s only one race, and that’s the human race. Period.

“We as a community – black, white, brown and red – must understand that we are one,” continued Olmos. “Sharing this message, this public speaking is the most important thing I do.”

Starting his journey during college in a rock band, then to the theatre, to the big screen and to TV, Olmos has years of experience connecting with people, including working on films that he felt would make a difference.

He starred in the film “Stand and Deliver” in 1988 and, having rewritten the script with the teacher to make it a more accurate film, presented the value of telling the story: it showed the self-respect, self-worth and self-knowledge that students gained from mastering math.

Throughout the evening, Olmos talked about Chavez – how impactful he was as a man, as a leader and a friend.

“Chavez changed my life. We picked fruit – I picked mostly oranges – and I learned about the non-violent, the social disobedience movement and the boycott from him,” said Olmos. “Eight of us recorded his funeral, showing the large number of people who paid their respect. He was a friend.

“We are here to share the struggle and to be honest about it.”

Olmos returned to his first advocacy experience, even before he knew his purpose.

His lecturing began almost by accident. Olmos was asked by a teacher at a Los Angles school to speak with her students, saying that she wanted a speaker who was still trying to find his way.

“I didn’t know what to say to the kids. I didn’t know how to engage them, and I couldn’t wait until it was over,” Olmos shared. “When I went back to speak to another class, I ‘owned the class.’ I had found my message, and I have been speaking to audiences ever since.”