The Life of Cesar Chavez
In California, Cesar Chavez’s birthday is one out of the three, to be considered an official state holiday.
March 31st 1927, this was the birth of a very important Mexican American labor activist. Cesar Chavez was of Mexican-American descent, and was a religious individual who believed in equal rights. He was a very hard working man, who mostly focused on laborers rights. His tireless leadership focused national attention on laborers terrible working conditions, which eventually led to improvement. Cesar Chavez grew up in Yuma, AZ, where his family owned a store in gia valley. They lived in an apartment above their store.
At the age of seven, Cesar had barely started school. The only thing that was getting in his way was that he only knew how to speak in Spanish. So his mother had taught him a lot, for example she taught him not to be selfish or violent. In the 1930’s Cesar’s dad had lost his business, so they moved to their ranch in a little town called la Colonia barrio in California. While his childhood school education was not the best, his education was his passion.
Later in life he believed that “the end of all education should surely be service to others” (Chavez, united farm workers).Soon after he finished school, he joined the U.S. navy. The navy was segregated at the time, in 1949, at the age of 19; he had already served 2 years in the navy. When he finished working in the navy, he married Halen Fabela and they had five kids.
He then joined the Ross organization after reading about st. Francis and grant and non violence. Soon after, Chavez became part of the organization and began encouraging Mexican-Americans to vote. Chavez traveled throughout California giving speeches about workers rights. He then became the general director of CSO, four years later he decided to open up his own organization called the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA).Chavez led an act in the grape fields of California demanding a higher pay.
They would chant “viva la causa” (Chavez, United Farm workers) which means long live our cause. This strike went on for about five years until the U.S. senate looked into the situation. Senator Robert Kennedy gave Chavez total support.
Chavez was a big motivator; he would always say “si se puede” which means it can be done (Chavez, Spectrum). Also he would tell them “A symbol is an important thing. That is why we chose an Aztec eagle. It gives pride…when people see it they know it means dignity” (Chavez, United farm workers).The best part about him being a protester, is that he would never get violent. For example: he once did a protest to only drink water for twenty five days, he would sacrifice his own life just to get “justice” for all farm workers.
Cesar gave his last once of strength defending the farm workers in Arizona, he was fighting for the right to speak out for themselves. On April 23, 1993 was the death of Chavez. He was honored on the 29th of April when over 50,000 mourners went and showed up at Chavez’s first “fast” (when he starved himself).Chavez would never be forgotten. As Luis Valdez said,” Cesar, we have come to plant your heart like a seed… the farm workers shall harvest in the seed of your memory” (United farm workers).
By people going to honor him at where he had first fasted, it shows their appreciation for him and what he did for everyone. .That just proves to everyone how one person can make a difference to help others. Works Cited “Activist and Reformer Cesar Chavez.” The Library of Congress. Americas Story.
Web. 31 Aug. 2011. “The Story of Cesar Chavez the Beginning.” United Farm Workers.
United Farm Workers. Web. 31 Aug. 2011. Stranberg, Dick. “Cesar Chavez.
” Spectrum Biographies. Spectrum Biographies. Web. 8 Aug. 2011.
