Cesar Chavez and the Chicano Civil Rights Movement

In his first large protest, Cesar went on a long march. When reflecting upon the march Chavez remarked that, “We marched alone at the beginning, but today, we count men of all creeds, nationalities, and occupations in number.” (Chavez, 2) From the very beginning, Chavez brought groups of people together by uniting his small group of protesters with a group of Filipino strikers to create the United Farm Workers. Uniting his group of protesters with the group of striking Filipino workers allowed the protest to become bigger, and therefore more successful. The large numbers also attracted more attention from the media. By uniting groups of strikers, Chavez created a strong protest organization that lasts even today. Another essential group of people Chavez got to join his cause were the consumers. Chavez and his partner Dolores Huerta once wrote, “We called upon our fellow men, and were answered by consumers.” (Chavez, Huerta, 1) Consumers helped the protest by participating in a grape boycott, and did not buy grapes until the grape workers’ needs were met. With this boycott, Chavez tried to weaken the business of the grape growers until they complied, and it worked. When thousands of citizens would not by grapes, the media covered the issue. Through the media coverage, the boycott spread rapidly, uniting people from all over the United States. With the popularity of the boycott, the protest evolved into not just a protest, but a civil rights

In the excerpt, Cesar Chavez, labor union organizers and civil rights leader, discusses how nonviolent resistance to problems in society easily resolves a situation better than violent protest. Throughout his speech, he uses many rhetorical strategies to argue his view on nonviolent resistance. Chavez’ use of ethos, logos, and pathos, creates his passionate attitude towards nonviolent resistance.

During his lifetime, Cesar Chavez and his followers made many changes and contributions to society. While he was alive, he had the privilege to see what his non-violence actions produced; what they transpired. It is recorded that Chavez began actively organizing workers in the fields in 1952. The California-based Community Service Organization (CSO) recruited and trained for his work. Chavez built new chapters of CSO, led voter registration drives, and helped Mexican-Americans confront issues of police and immigration abuse during the next ten years. In 1958 he became general director of CSO. With

Cesar Chavez once explained the horrors of society when he said, “When the man who feeds the world by toiling in the fields is himself deprived of the basic rights of feeding, sheltering and caring for is family, the whole community of man is sick.” (ufw.org) That means that the whole of humanity is sick and cruel when the man who works the fields all day long to feed the all of the citizens of the entire world can’t even provide for himself. It was not a small amount of people it affected, it was millions, and millions of citizens across the world. Chavez was a large factor in beginning to abolish racism, or also called the Civil Rights Movement.

Cesar Chavez championed for unionization of grape farm workers. Chavez employed strikes, fasts, and boycotts to raise awareness for their cause. Violent retaliation was needless to Chavez so much he believed that the most audacious thing to do was to “sacrifice” one’s self “for others” in the name of justice (Alarcon). Cesar Chavez and his associates were targets of increasing acts of violence. By not meeting violence with violence, their cause fell on listening ears. Cesar and the farm worker’s retaliation consisted of increased dedication and more strikes. Drawing from peaceful protest historical figures such as Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez was successful with many labor strikes. Chavez could have raised awareness much more rapidly by using violence. However, he “fasted for twenty-five days” for the unerring choice of peaceful protest (Cesar Chavez Gains Grounds for Farmers). Belief in their cause fueled each protester. A single violent outburst from the workers would ripple outward and cause them to lose ground. The farm workers did not make gains without facing hardships. Cesar Chavez’s fast was the result of “increasing advocacy” calling for “violence” among fellow strikers (History.com Staff). As a leader, one must take responsibility for the actions of their supporters. The strikes were beginning to strain. Careful steps were to be taken in order to preserve the strikers’ reason and renew support. Cesar had to challenge their oppressors

Cesar Chavez, a labor leader and civil rights activist, wrote an article that discusses his strong stand on how using nonviolent resistance is the better way to go rather than using violent acts. Inspired by the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Chavez writes an article about his argument on nonviolent resistance; he accomplishes that by using rhetorical choice like allusions, pathos, and tone.

Cesar Chavez fought for other migrant farmers because he had experienced what they were experiencing, and thought he should make a difference when Chavez started leading the UFW, United Farm Workers, is when his movement really started. Lots of things happened during Chavez’s childhood “At age 11, his family lost their farm during the Great Depression and became migrant farm workers”(Cesar Chavez Foundation). That is the main reason for why Chavez noticed the issues that were surfacing with workers, this is what got him into the farms. Cesar taught many unforgettable lessons “Cesar learned and taught others how commitment and sacrifice can set you free from the constraints imposed by depending entirely on money and material things”(Cesar Chavez Foundation). The citation shows how Cesar made a big impact on others even if only teaching them. Cesar did many

A significant struggle during the Chicano and Black Civil rights movement was employment, and discrimination in the workplace. First, a case pertaining to this issue during the Chicano movement was Bernal v. Fainter in the year 1984. This was a case where the Supreme Court of the United States « ruled that the Equal Protection Clause prohibited the state of Texas from barring noncitizens from applying for commission as a notary public.» The result of this case came about, as the court realized, that there is no requirement for a notary to be a citizen, but the the only real necessity is that they follow the law. On the other hand, this case points out that a noncitizen may be unable to become a police officer or any other type of government worker that is required to « act on behalf of the state and have considerable discretion in how the law is enforced. »

Many of us today know about Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream” speech; yet, Cesar Chavez gave a similar speech about a different crisis and we fail to recognize it. Martin Luther King, Jr. became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement to end racial segregation and discrimination in America during the 1950's and 1960's. He hoped to obtain equality through nonviolent actions. Cesar Chavez was the leader of the United Farm Workers of America, who saw the hopes for better lives for Mexican, Mexican American, and Hispanic workers in the United States. Although Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar wrote about two very different topics they tend to have many similarities throughout their speeches discussing what we as a nation need to do to solve each problem.

The article “Cesar Chavez Saved My Life,” written by Daniel “Nane” Alejandrez reflects on Mr. Alejandraz’s past, covering some very unfortunate events, but with a purpose of pulling emotion from the reader. While reading some parts of the article, I had to reread it over a few times to comprehend the point that the author was trying to make. The most important thing about knowing his past is that it is significantly different, and much more positive in the future because of one person, Cesar Chavez.

What I have learned in these week is that if you are not satisfied with something you must change it. Like all those Latino, Chicanos and Mexican Americans did in the past. All the historical events that took place in the late 1960s and early 70s are a clear representation of discomfort. Chicanos and Mexican Americans fought to be treated equally as the Anglo people and for the same opportunities they deserved, many of the strikes that took place demanded a fairly wage for farm workers and for the discomfort of how Mexican Americans were treated by police or by other institutions. Cesar Chavez was one of that people who see something he was not going to tolerate so he decided to start a change.

The use public speeches, symbols, flags, newsletters, pickets, music, dramas, processions, and public assemblies were all means of displaying their disillusion of the tyranny. Cesar Chavez’s charisma and use of fasting gained media attention and recognition, this established legitimacy to the outrage. Advocacy and protest played intricate parts in the success of the movement. They were done strategically, sending out very powerful messages that ultimately led to the farmers sitting down and reassessing the rights given to their workers. Cesar Chavez opened eyes with the help of the advocates to seek the huge change they so desperately

Cesar Chavez once said, “We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community -and this nation.” He believes that it is the first step to unity as a group. As well as many other characters in Outcasts United by Warren St. John. The book shows the horrible experiences the refugees faced in their new home because of the lack of acceptance. Not accepting diversity will lead to trouble while embracing it serves the personal goals and interests of everyone which can strengthen the community.

10/25/16 Jimenez Strength matches perfect with the goals of Cesar Chavez Farm worker’s movement. Jimenez goal was to complete his pH. D., Cesar Chavez was to help the farm workers, to have better conditions at work and a better salary. During the era of the 60s, there were many protests in U.S the Civil Right movement, Newark, Vietnam War, Race riots and the Delano grape strike there was a lot of discrimination against, illegal people, especially to African Americas and Mexicans in the U.S. Many of these protestss were peaceful protest, human rights protest and the Delano strike. As student of Columbia, Francisco was awarded of all these things that were happing in the world. He was focused and what he wanted his goal to complete his pH. D.

Cesar Chavez’s Vision of Peace In the early 1960’s many west coast grape farmers outsourced the labor needed on their farms to mexican immigrants. They brought them in by the dozens to farm their land as the grape industry was a thriving business during this time period. Even though these immigrants were considered to be paid employees their wages, living conditions, and working conditions were inhumane. They were forced to work extremely long hours under the scorching hot California sun while working alongside various different dangerous chemicals, all for pay well under the federal regulations for minimum wage.