Cesar Estrada Chavez Research Paper

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

He stated this matter at the Second Annual Conference in Sacramento, Ca. After his speech he gained over 6,000 people to join his fast. He could have not accomplished that without the help of an organization called California Migrant Ministry. This organization is a protestant group who helped Chavez succeed. Because their relationship grew, the ministry was right by Cesar's side during the strikes. He later on explains how supportive the ministry was, “ When 30 of the strikers were arrested for shouting Huelga, 11 ministers went to jail with them.” (Chavez). Although it might not be obvious, Chavez wanted the church to feel betrayed as well. He wanted them to begin to question why CMM was with them. Chavez also knew the Mexican-American Community was listening so he gives them facts about the Ministry, how supportive they are.

One reason Cesar Chavez was an effective leader was because he created a union known as the United Farm Workers. Chavez’s goal was to organize the farmers to receive better pay and better working conditions. He was not the first to attempt, others have tried but failed due to the power of growers. He was different, he gained support through encouragement. His exact words were “si se puede”(Doc A) meaning “it can be done”. He encouraged his supporters to seek their rights as farmers. “ The strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for other in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice”(Doc C). Chavez along

Chavez joined his parents to help harvest carrots, cotton, and grapes under the blazing California sun. During this period Cesar Chavez experienced the corrupt labor contractors, extremely low wages, and poor living and working conditions that the migrant workers had to endure. Around this time as well, he got his first glimpse of union organizing when his father became active in several union activities. (Ramakrishnan; Russell) It is believed that Chavez’s father and uncle actively supported unions. Therefore he learned at a young age firsthand about strikes, organizing operations, and also picket lines. (Gale Encyclopedia)

They then moved to California looking for work in the fields as temporary farm laborers; just like thousands of other rural families in the southwest. The family led a nomadic life; moving very often in search of migrant work. Chavez joined his parents to help harvest carrots, cotton, and grapes under the blazing California sun. During this period Cesar Chavez experienced the corrupt labor contractors, extremely low wages, and poor living and working conditions that the migrant workers had to endure. Around this time as well, he got his first glimpse of union organizing when his father became active in several union activities. (Ramakrishnan; Russell) It is believed that Chavez’s father and uncle actively supported unions. Therefore he learned at a young age firsthand about strikes, organizing operations, and also picket lines. (Gale Encyclopedia)

Cesar Chavez’s biography shows a lot about the way he was raised and how that taught him his ways and shaped his personality. Cesar was born on March 31, 1927 (Gonzales 22) and was subjected early to intense destitution because his family was one of many migrant, Mexican-American, families (Pao) that rely on the money even if the conditions were terrible for any human. His experience of the farm worker’s life was what drove him to help other workers. “Cesar and his father trudged twelve miles to Yuma looking for a bank loan. They came back covered with dust and empty-handed.”(Terzian 7) He had early experiences with upwards battles and it taught him how to manage them. Another time was captured by James Terzian when he wrote about Chavez’s dad taking care of his fellow workers. “These people are poor, ignorant peasants - campesinos! They’ll sleep anywhere, eat anything take any wage you pay. Why waste your time and money on them, eh?” said the neighbor. Cesar’s dad responds, “They are children of God. They will get shelter and soap for as long as they work on my farm.” (5). He was raised to respect workers and understand that they are people too.

With the increase in salary many Mexicans would feel the money made would be enough to support their family, and live a more comfortable life. The growth of immigrants sparked around the 1970’s, and continued to grow as decades passed. According to the pewhispanic.org the immigrant population had a seventeen fold increase from the decades before. (seven hundred sixty thousand immigrants were currently in the United States in the nineteen seventies.) Even with the increase in salary Mexican americans were still unsatisfied, and believed they deserved more money, more respect, and less racial segregation. The leader of the United Farm Workers movement Cesar Chavez helped organize boycotts and strikes against the farm owners, and got others to stop buying grapes; this severely hurt the grape growing business. Not only did the increase in salary encourage others to immigrate to the United States, but better working conditions did as well. With more immigrants entering the United States, many Mexicans would find themselves to be illegally in the US. Chavez was strongly against those who were in the US illegally and would refuse to help them. Though these people were not receiving the UFW benefits, it encouraged them to apply for citizenship.

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.

Cesar Chavez was an American civil rights activists. He was born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma, Arizona. Cesar Chavez was the son of Juana Estrada and Librado Chavez. He was named after his grandfather.He lived in a Mexican-American family which had six children. Cesar Chavez lived in the same small house that he was born in. Chavez lost his land during the Great Depression. It was taken away because Chavez’s father made an agreement that was soon broken. His father tried to buy the house but he couldn’t because he wasn’t able to pay the loan. Their house was soon sold to the original owner. Cesar Chavez and his family then had to move to California to become migrant farm workers. The Chavez family had to work really hard. They did not live in the same place for so long. They would pick peas and lettuce in the winter. In the spring, they had to picks cherries and beans. For Summer, they picked corn and grapes. Lastly, for Fall, they would pick cotton. Chavez went to 30 different schools in California because his family kept moving from place to place to find work. In 1942, Chavez dropped out of seventh grade. It would have been his last year but he didn’t want his mother to work in the fields. Chavez soon became full-time migrant farm worker. At the time, farm workers weren’t paid enough and lived horrible conditions. Chavez and his older sister Rita helped farm workers and neighbors when they were sick. They would drive those who couldn’t drive to the hospital to see a

Document C shows that Chavez’s willingness to sacrifice was effective because the image shows Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a future presidential candidate, with Chavez. The image’s description states that Kennedy was supporting Chavez. Along with that, Chavez said, “I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice.” This image and excerpt show that Chavez was willing to make sacrifices for the movement that he was leading, and that these sacrifices helped bring more awareness to the issue about the rights of farm workers. The willingness to sacrifice is an important quality to have because in the long run, the sacrifice of a leader usually benefits the movement that the leader is a part of. People are astonished and inspired by a person’s willingness to sacrifice, and the sacrifice of leaders has a profound affect on their followers, and, eventually, on social systems. Chavez chose hunger strikes as a form of protest because it was nonviolent, it showed courage, and it was a sacrifice that helped make the movement successful because the sacrifice made a statement about the movement for the rights of the farm workers. The photograph of Chavez and Kennedy was important to the movement because it showed others that Chavez had support from a well-known politician, bringing more awareness to the rights of the farm workers. This caused more people to support this movement, putting more pressure on the growers to make the farm conditions better and to treat the farm workers better. The willingness to sacrifice made Chavez an effective leader because he made sacrifices that brought more attention and support to the movement, finally helping win union rights and civil rights for the farm

Cesar Chavez was born in March 31, 1927 in Yuma, AZ. He was famous for his protests and marches for equal rights for migrant farm workers. His famous speech was called Wrath of Grapes. In that speech he said that they were going to start a boycott against farmer´s grapes. Cesar Chavez died in Jan Luis, AZ in April 23, 1993 of illness.

Cesar Chavez was described as ¨one of the heroic figures of our time,¨ according to Senator Robert F. Kennedy. He was a true American hero, was a civil rights, Latino and farm labor leader, religious figure, community organizer, and social entrepreneur. Chavez was born in the North Gila River Valley outside Yuma and born on March 31, 1927. When he was at the age of 11 his family lost their farm during the Great Depression and had to become farm workers. Traveling through the migrant streams throughout California laboring in the fields, orchards, and vineyard. This happened during his youth and into his adulthood. This exposed him him to the hardships and injustices of farm worker life. He attended many schools before graduating eighth grade,

Cesar Chaves was an American union leader, born on March 31, 1927 near Yuma, Arizona and died April 23, 1993 San Luis, Arizona. He should be rewarded a national holiday due to his hard work and dedication for providing worker rights to Americans. Cesar Chavez was a leader of multiple labor movements which have since then unified migrant workers to protest for improved working conditions which was important in setting a path for rights for American workers. Cesar Chavez came from an immigrant background. Cesar Chavez served in the US Navy during World War II for two years, the continued to work in Arizona fields. He created a farmers union to fight for labor rights. During the tide of social unrest that shook American society in 1968, Chavez

As a young kid, I remember reading about and celebrating Cesar Chavez day, Being a student in Southern California the importance of Cesar Chavez's was widely known. In elementary school, I recall having cultural fairs around the time of Chavez’s commemoration. Chavez worked to create fair conditions and foster social justice for farm workers and laborers in the

Cesar Chavez understood what it was like for workers, and how they were treated poorly, because he once faced those challenges. Cesar grew up on a farm, and he had first-handedly experienced the hardships the workers had to face. He dedicated his time to promoting non-violent acts to ensure that workers would get those rights. As stated from a StudySync article, “Through boycotts, hunger strikes, and marches, Chavez and his supporters successfully improved the lives of farmers around the country, and his speeches about justice, community, and education still resonate with community activists and politicians today”. Many things were accomplished under Cesar, one of those accomplishments is “The first union contracts requiring rest periods, toilets in the fields, clean drinking water, hand washing facilities…” (StudySync). All in all, Cesar was able to succeed. In fact, Barack Obama designated one of his campaign slogans after one of Cesar’s quotes.