Harvesting Hope “The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”

Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist. He was born in March 1927 and died in April 1993. Cesar co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (United Farm Workers) in 1962.

Chavez’s Early Life Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927. He then moved to California with his parents in 1939. Both his parents were immigrant farm workers. His parents taught him important ideas about hard work, the importance of education, and respect. Cesar attended school, but was difficult for him because the teachers only spoke English and Cesar didn’t understand it. Some teachers were mean to Cesar because they would punish him for speaking Spanish. He later learned how to read English.

Life Experience Chavez was one of six children. His parents owned a ranch and a grocery store, but they lost it all during the Great Depression. For Cesar’s family to survive, they had to become migrant farm workers, moving all across from California to find work. They would pick cherries and beans in the spring, corn and grapes during the summer, cotton in the fall, and peas and lettuce in the winter. This was hard work, but was necessary in order to live. Chavez had attended about 30 schools in California while his parents moved from one place to another to look for work. Cesar often faced prejudice because he was Mexican-American. After the eighth grade, Cesar had to quit school in order to help his parents. In 1948, Chavez married a woman who was also from a family of migrant farm workers known as Helen Fabela Chavez. By 1959, they had eight children and Chavez had to return to farm work. As his experience before, working in the fields was harsh. That’s when Chavez decided he had to do something for a change.

Chavez’s Impact of the Industry In 1962, Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. The NFWA would unite with another union known as the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee. In 1966, both unions joined together to form the United Farm Workers (UFW). As members of the union, they were asked not to work for the Delano grape growers. This strike lasted for nearly 5 years. They fought against grape producers for better working conditions and higher pay through non-violence tactics. One of the bravest action Chavez had done was to start his first hunger strike, which would last for 25 days. This was done to stop violence against protesters.

Four Fun Facts Cesar Chavez was awarded the Medal of Freedom Chavez had served in the Navy for two years In 2000, a state holiday was formed on March 31, to honor Cesar Chavez in California Cesar’s motto was “Yes, it can be done”

Reference Biography of César E. Chávez (CA Dept of Education). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/Lessons/Resources/Biographies/K-2_Bio.aspx Cesar Chavez Grows Up. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/chavez/aa_chavez_growup_3.html The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people. - Cesar Chavez - BrainyQuote. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/cesarchave381157.html Timeline: Cesar Chavez. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.infoplease.com/spot/timeline-cesar-chavez Cesar Chavez Facts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.softschools.com/facts/biography/cesar_chavez_facts/846/