FAMOUS MEXICAN AMERICAN CESAR CHAVEZ

By Jase Nichols and Carlos Fuentes

CESAR CHAVEZ WAS BORN ON MARCH 31,1927 IN YUMA,

ARAZONA. HIS REAL NAME IS CESARIO ESTRADA CHAVEZ.

IN THE 1930’S MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS. CESAR’S FAMILY

LOST THEIR FARM AND STORE. THEY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA AND BECAME MIGRANT WORKERS.

HIS FAMILY MOVED AROUND SO MUCH THAT CESAR WENT TO 30 DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

CESAR WAS IN THE NAVY FOR TWO YEARS.

FARM WORKERS WERE TREATED UNFAIRLY. CESAR’S

FATHER WENT ON STRIKE BECAUSE HE WANTED FAIR

PAY. CESAR LEARNED TO STAND UP TO UNFAIR

TREATMENT.

IN 1948, HE MOVED TO SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA AND MARRIED HELEN

FABELA. HE WENT BACK TO WORK ON

FARMS PICKING GRAPES AND COTTON.

CESAR AND HELEN LIVED IN A ONE

BEDROOM SHACK SURROUNDED BY MUD.

THEY DIDN’T HAVE WATER OR POWER.

IN 1952, HE STARTED WORKING WITH THE CSO, A COMMUNITY SERVICE

ORGANIZATION THAT WORKED FOR JUSTICE

FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WHILE WORKING WITH THE CSO, CESAR LEARNED:

• KNOWLEDGE IS POWER• THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS• REAL CHANGE CAN’T BE

ACHIEVED THROUGH VIOLENCE

CESAR SPOKE TO GROUPS OF WORKERS.

HE WAS A GOOD SPEAKER AND LEADER.

HE TRIED TO CONVINCE WORKERS TO VOTE FOR

LAWS THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS BETTER.

IN 1962, HE FORMED THE FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION (FWA). HE

ORGANIZED WORKERS INTO A LABOR UNION. HE HELPED THEM

GAIN THEIR RIGHTS.

BY WORKING AS A GROUP, WORKERS USED THEIR

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION . THEY DID IT WITHOUT

VIOLENCE. THEY WENT ON STRIKE AND REFUSED TO WORK. THEY ALSO STARTED A BOYCOTT WHERE THEY ASKED PEOPLE TO

STOP BUYING GRAPES.

HE LEARNED TO BE NON VIOLENT FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND

MOHANDAS GANDHI.

.

Cesar Chavez showed

diligence.

CESAR CHAVEZ’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE FOR MIGRANT WORKERS WAS HONORED WITH A POSTAGE

STAMP.

CHAVEZ IS HONORED WITH A STATUE IN SACRAMENTO,

CALIFORNIA.

CHAVEZ WON THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM, THE HIGHEST

MEDAL OF HONOR IN THE UNITED STATES.

CESAR CHAVEZ DIED IN 1993.

Cesar Chavez’s love for justice and belief in freedom of expression helped many people. He worked hard for

worker’s rights. He is remembered for saying,

“Si se puede.” “Yes, it can be done.”