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Cesar Chavez
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Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor rights activist who fought to improve

conditions of migrant workers and made an impact in the lives of many. Chavez was born

Cesario Estrada Chavez in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927. He grew up with siblings

Richard, Vicki, Librado, and Rita. A few years after his birth, he and his family lost their farm

and business. Due to the Great Depression that was sweeping the country, they had to move to

California in search of sustainable jobs. Since the Mexican Revolution in 1910, Mexicans were

pouring into the United States in search of new lives and new jobs. The Chavez family worked in

the fields as migrant farm workers, giving him early insight into the difficult lives of migrant

farm workers. The excruciating conditions of the migrant camps-low wages, frugal labor

contractors, and never ending racism-opened the eyes of Chavez and became the catalyst to his

activist lifestyle. After moving farm to farm, season to season, Chavezs family settled down in

the 1940s.

After years of working as a community and labor organizer, he formed the National Farm

Workers Association in 1962. The main goal of Chavez and his organization was to overthrow a

farm labor system in this nation, which treats farm workers as if they were not important human

beings. Chavez and the NFWA performed nonviolent boycotts, several hunger strikes, and

multiple peaceful protests. In 1965, the National Farm Workers Association collaborated with

the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. In their first strike against California grape

owners in 1965, Chavez called for a nationwide boycott in order to improve working conditions

and increase pay for its workers. This battle went on for years, and succeeded in securing

contracts between many grape owners and their migrant farm workers. The National Farm

Workers Association officially merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in
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1972 under the new name Union Farm Workers. In addition to fighting powerful business

leaders, Chavez was also challenged by the powerful Teamsters Union.

Chavez and his union employed non-violent protests such as marches, boycotts, and

hunger strikes. In addition, he brought nationwide awareness to the dangers of pesticide use to

farm workers and earned the friendship and support of famous politicians such as Robert

Kennedy and Jesse Jackson. His lifelong dedication to improving working conditions for farm

workers came at a personal cost. The numerous hunger strikes took a toll on his health and are

believed to have contributed to his death. Cesar Chavez passed away on April 23, 1993 in San

Luis, Arizona.

After his death, Chavez became an icon for Latino workers, organized labor, and leftist

politicians. Countless schools, streets, and parks in Latino communities have been named after

him as he became a symbol for the grassroots organizing power of Hispanic workers. He is even

credited with popularizing the phrase Si, se puede, Spanish for Yes, one can or Yes, it can

be done, which was transformed into Barack Obamas Yes, we can presidential campaign

slogan in 2008. Membership in the United Farm Workers dwindled following his death, but he is

still remembered as something of a folk saint in the eyes of Mexican Americans. His birthday

has even become Cesar Chavez Day in the states of California, Colorado, and Texas.
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References
Biography.com

Wikipedia.com

History.com