The United States has a history of prejudice and racism. On a national level, this plays a major role in the way people conduct their lives. Mexicans have been exploited for their work for decades. One man fought long and hard for his people and their civil liberties. That man was Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona to a middle class family. Cesar s family owned their land and also ran a business. When the depression hit in the 1930 s, the young Cesar Chavez and his family left to find work in California as farm laborers because they had lost everything that they owned.
This period of Cesar s life was what formed the way he looked at farm labor. Having never worked in the fields, Cesar quickly realized what it was like to be a farm laborer. Cesar was born into a politically active family. Cesar s father was very active in his community in Yuma, Arizona. While working as a farm laborer, Cesar s father joined many labor unions. In 1952, Cesar found a job as a volunteer in the community service organization. As a volunteer, he would register voters by going door to door. Shortly after he started to volunteer work, Cesar was made chairman of the registration drive.
During the mid 1950 s, Cesar became a full time organizer for the CSO, and received 35 dollars a week for his work. He was assigned to a voter registration drive in De Coto, a town in Alameda County. This job was very successful, then Cesar was made a state-wide organizer. Cesar fought the farmers explotation by questioning the legitimacy of the Bracerio program. In 1958, Ceaser went on to Oxnard, to support a local labor union strike. He found that the locals were upset because the Braceros were taking there jm workers.
This was the begining of La Cuasa , a cause that was supported by organized labor, religious groups, minorities and students. That same year, the red and black flag with the UFW eagle was designed. Cesar made reference to the flag by saying 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. Cesar Chavez had the forsight to train his union workers and then send them into the cities were they were used to boycott and picket. Cesar was strongly against non-violence and always used non-violent tacticts.
Because of the preasure of organized labor and other Mexican American Rights groups , the government canceled the bracero program in 1964. It wasn t long until Cesar Chavez gained the moral support of Mexican Officials and Labor Leaders in Mexico . Cesar Chavez was so determined to achieve the proper civil rights that his people deserved, that he was willing to sacrafice his own life. So the union could continue and that violence was not used. In 1968 cesar went on a water only 25 day fast. He repeated the fast in 1972 for 24 days and in 1988for 36 days.
His reasons for fasting were to keep self respect for the people and to build agreat union thruogh the commitment to the struggle for justice through non-violence. Many events. Eventually the UFW succeeded in forcing the major growers to sign a historic agreement. On July29, 1970, 26 Delano growers formally signed contracts stating their plan for vast improvement of working conditions for thousands of farm workers. This was the first time in the history of the farm Labor that growers had settled and negotiated a contract with a union representing migrant workers.
During the 1980 s problems arose. Chavez was once again calling for a boycott on grapes in order to terminate their use of harmful pesticides in the feildsand to get them to sign contracts with the UFW. During this time Cesar Chavez said, History will judge societies and governments__and there institutions__not by how big they are, or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless. Cesar Chavez followed his heart and fought long and hard for what he believed in– freedom and equality for the disinfranchised..
Not often does someone come along that is Charasmatic, peacefull, relentless and as pure as Cesar Chavez was. In 1993, Cesar Chavez, still hard at workwith duties of the UFW , is recorded to have died in his sleep with a smile on his face. He was 66 years old. Today the UFW still exists and continues to fight for the rights of farmworkers. Cesar lived a full meaningful life and acomplished many great things that changed the way of life many people then, now and in the future. rsin in Mexico . Cesar Chavez was so determined to achieve the proper cvivil rights that his p
The bracero program began in congress in 1942. It s purpose was to import seasonal contract laborers in times of labor shortages in the states. Apparently, the farmers falsly claim labor shortages in order import Braceros, Because the wages that farmers paid Braceros was much cheaper than what they had to pay local workers. The farmers were also able to make there money back from braceros by charging them extra for room and board. Cesar fought against the farmers by organizing boycotts, sit-downs, and protests. All of cesar actions were succesfull.
His accomplishments got him the state executive directorship for the CSO. He served this position for 2 years. During Cesar s time in the CSO, He met Dolores Huerta, a woman who shared his passion for obtaining farm workers civil rights. His plan was to fight for the rights of migrant and resident farm workers. In order to acheive this goal, Chavez sent out to form a viable Union among the thousands of disefranchised farm workers. Chavez encountered many obstacles after the formation of his unionand at the begining of there strike.
Chavez had a few delimas. Many of the workers were hesitant to join Chavez and go against their employer for fear of losing their job. Also the Growers were very stubborn to their demands and didn t want to hear what the strikers had to say. The grower would also hire mexican immigrants also known as strikebreakers . On september 15, 1965 Chavezs Farm Workers Association joined the Filipino grape pickers in Delano. They had begun a strike to protest low wages and bad living conditions. It was called the Delano Plan .
Cesar made people aware of the struggles of farm workers for better pay and safer working conditionsand sought recognition of the importance and dignaty of all intentionally chose September 16, The Mexican Independence Dayto begin their fight. choosing this day over any other day brought together many proud people. Banners of our lady Guadalupe, the patron Saint of Mexico, and other Mexican symbols became an integral part of rallies and marches. The mexican and US flags were prominent in meetings and strikes.