Kyleigh Hammonds

5-11-2017
Spanish 1
Wallace

Cesar Chavez
 Cesar Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927, he was Mexican-

American. This gave him many challenges as he grew older in the United States. When his

family moved to California they would have been known as migrant workers. Moving all over

the state looking for work. As he moved around he began to realize how terrible the conditions

were for these migrant families. There were unkempt migrant camps, insufficient wages for

arduous work, and hateful racism.

In 1962 Chavez formed the National Farm Workers Association, this was inspired by

Father Donald McDonnell and Fred Ross, two activists Chavez met 10 years earlier. This

association emphasized nonviolent methods of protest, such as marches or boycotts. The most

recognizable strike is when the National Farm Workers Association joined forces with the

Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. They protested grape growers in California. Later

on these two organizations consolidated to become the United Farm Workers.

A considerable turning point was in September 1965 the then small Farm Workers

Association joined a strike that had been established by Filipino farm workers in Delanos grape

fields. This protest made this tiny, insignificant union famous within months. Throughout

Chavezs life the union had separations on the subject of whether the protesters should use

violence or not. There were many occurrences where they did use violence, this upset Chavez

greatly. In 1968 Chavez went on a twenty-five day fast to protest violence within the union.

Finally an agreement was reached with the Delano growers when twenty-six of them signed

contracts approving the UFW and restoring peace to the vineyards. Though, not long after that

the Teamsters union crossed the UFW in the Salinas valley by signing contracts with the

growers there. This began a four year endeavour brimming with violence. Ultimately the

Teamsters came to a compromise and signed an agreement that briefly ended the dischord.
 Chavez believed that the only way to reach peace with everyone for good, was by

legislation. He began to support the passage of Californias Agricultural Labor Relations Act.

This act promised migrant workers an end to anguish and being taken advantage of. Also

ensuring justice for these workers. Though these promises were short lived.

In 1976 Chavez prompted the union into a major reorganization to improve outreach and

efficiency. In response to the grape industries refusal to discontinue the use of pesticides, Chavez

began an international boycott of table grapes.

Chavez supported his work and devoted himself to this union for thirty years. He died on

April 23, 1993. A year later he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President

Clinton for his work as a leader.

We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for

our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of

others, for their sakes and for our own. ~ Cesar Chavez
 Work Cited

Cesar Chavez facts ~ http://www.history.com/topics/cesar-chavez

Quote ~ https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/cesarchave132536.h