Cesar Chavez

Mahatma-Gandhi, studio, 1931

Dolores Huerta (25854563002)

UFW Flag

Cesar Chavez on march from Mexican border to Sacramento with UFW workers

2009-0725-CA-Delano-40acres

Cesar Chavez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW). Chavez became the best known Latino American civil rights activist, and was strongly promoted by the American labor movement, which was eager to enroll Hispanic members. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida.

Early Life

Born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona, to a Mexican American family, Chavez experienced the hardships of life as a farm worker from a young age. After losing their land during the Great Depression, the Chavez family moved to California and became migrant farm workers. The injustices Chavez witnessed as a child would shape his life's work.

Activism

In 1962, Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association with Dolores Huerta, aiming to improve working conditions for farm workers. Chavez's approach to labor activism was influenced by his Catholic faith and the nonviolent civil disobedience tactics of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.. He organized marches, boycotts, and strikes to advocate for workers' rights, most notably the Delano grape strike of 1965.

Chavez's efforts led to numerous improvements for farm workers, including higher wages, safer working conditions, and the establishment of the California Agricultural Labor Relations Act in 1975, which allowed farm workers to organize and bargain for better conditions.

Legacy

Cesar Chavez's legacy is marked by his commitment to social justice and the respect for human dignity. His birthday, March 31, is celebrated as Cesar Chavez Day in several U.S. states, and numerous schools, streets, and parks are named after him. In 1994, Chavez was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Chavez's life and work have left a lasting impact on the labor movement and the fight for racial and economic justice in America. His motto, "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, it can be done"), encapsulates the optimism and perseverance that characterized his approach to activism.

See Also

• Labor rights
• Civil rights movement
• Dolores Huerta
• United Farm Workers