Introduction
In the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, the United States was one of the regions
receiving a high number of immigrants from all over the world. Some of the immigrants
came as free men seeking a better life through employment, while others were slaves 1 . The
available job opportunities included working as house managers, casuals in industries, and
farmworkers. The expansion of farming activities in the United States saw a widened market
for farm laborers but little coordination and control from the federal government resulted into
violation of workers’ rights 2 . The farm owners subjected the laborers to inhuman activities
where some worked for long hours without shifts, small wages, and harsh working conditions
with fewer considerations to health check-ups. These conditions paved the way for the rise of
labor and human rights activists such as Cesar Chavez 3 and among others. Cesar Chavez is an
iconic figure in the United States for the organized labor politics and supporting workers
through empowerment by forming grassroots organizations.
History
Cesar Chavez was born in 1927 in Arizona in a place called Yuma. His name comes
from his paternal grandfather, who was a Mexican 4 . Cesar Chavez was an immigrant from
Mexico, although he was born and raised in America. Their establishment in Texas was after
his grandfather, Cesario Chavez, bought a farm and established a wood business in Yuma 5 .
Later his grandfather went for the wife and settled there with their eight children. Chavez was
raised in a family that was not that rich, but they would not go hungry. Chavez went to school
1. Smith, T. John. “Background Essay on Late 19 th and Early 20 th Century Immigration.” The American History.
2019. Retrieved from https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/513
2. Smith. “Background Essay on Late 19 th and Early 20 th Century Immigration.”
https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/513
3. Etulain, Richard W. Cesar Chavez: A Brief Biography with Documents. Palgrave Macmillan. 2002, p. 18
4. Etulain 5.
5. Etulain 7.
3
in 1933 in Laguna Dam School, where he changed his name from Cesario to Cesar 6 . His
experience with labor rights and the politics involved came after the death of Dorotea in
1937. After Dorotea's death, her properties, including her farmstead, were auctioned to pay
back taxes 7 . These actions of selling the only dwelling place for the family were considered
unjust by Cesar 8 . As a Roman Catholic, Cesar saw the power structure as Anglo-American,
and the moral goodness belonged to the poor only.
The great depression made Cesar and the family move to California to seek for
suitable living conditions. During their stay in California, Cesar and the family joined other
immigrants in Oxnard as avocado and pea pickers. After a while, the family relocated to San
Jose, where they established their home in a Mexican garage 9 . The family also worked as
agricultural laborers.
The period of moving from one place to the other made his performance in school to
be average. At school, he faced various challenges as he was not white. On some occasions,
he was not served in his school as the European-American criticized his origin. After
completing school in 1942, Cesar Chavez was a full-time laborer in farms 10 . In 1948, he
married Helen Fabela in Nevada and got their first child Fernando in 1949. The family later
relocated to San Jose, where Cesar worked in various farms as an apricot picker. He then
joined General Box Company as a handler of Lumber.
Activities
6. Ross, Fred. Conquering Goliath: Cesar Chavez at the Beginning. Keene, California: United Farm Workers:
Distributed by El Taller Graffito, 1989.
7. Etulain, Richard W. Cesar Chavez: A Brief Biography with Documents. Palgrave Macmillan. 2002, p. 20
8. Soto, Gary. Cesar Chavez: A Hero for Everyone. New York: Aladdin, 2003.
9. Soto 22.
10. Etulian 25.
4
At General Box Company, Cesar Chavez established a friendship with justice activists
such as Father Donald McDonell and Fred Ross. The two activists for social justice were both
European-Americans who majored in advocating for the rights of the Mexican immigrants
living in America. The community of Mexican-Americans were the primary source of farm
labor in the region of California and were also the most extensive group subjected to
injustices 11 . The friendship between Cesar and Ross paved the way for the formation of the
Community Service Organization. The chapter focused on the issues of voting for the farm
laborers in the region 12 . Later, his activities in the chapter made him be elected as the vice
president. His association with McDonell was fruitful as the latter helped Cesar with books to
read and develop knowledge of history. Among the materials given by McDonell to Cesar
included the history of American laborer activist Lewis John and Mahatma Gandhi 13 . These
books shaped the way Cesar organized his non-violent activities.
Cesar's work at the Community Service Organization after been laid off by his former
employer, General Box Company, entailed moving from one region to the other in
California 14 . He established other chapters and sourcing for the organization's funding. After
Ross and Cesar stopped running the organization, it failed to perform. Later, Cesar was
persuaded by Saul Alinsky to unite the twenty chapters and make them one body which will
extend influence at a national level 15 . Reestablishment of the Community service organization
coincided with the cold war. Thus, the government, through the Federal Bureau of
11. Daniel, Cletus E. "Cesar Chavez and the Unionization of California Farm Workers." ed. Dubinsky, Melvyn
and Warren Van Tine. Labor Leaders in America. University of IL: 1987.
12. Pawel, Miriam. "Decisions of Long Ago Shape the Union Today". Los Angeles Times. 2006.
https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-history10jan10-story.html
13. Del Castillo, Richard Griswold and Garcia, Richard A. Cesar Chavez: A Triumph of Spirit. Stillwater, Okla.:
University of Oklahoma Press, 1997.
14. See note 11 above.
15. See note 13 above.
5
Investigation, cross-monitored the movements of Cesar as they believed he was influenced
and funded by Marxist groups.
Cesar's Community Service Organization received $20,000 from United
Packinghouse Workers of America to open another chapter in Oxnard to cater to the Mexican
laborers in various farms. The establishment of the branch in Oxnard was accompanied by
complaints from the Mexicans who were occasionally fired for the owners of the farms and
companies to source for cheaper and desperate Mexican workers 16 . These actions were in line
with the violation of the Federal Laws. These allegations made him establish a committee
that advocated for the registration of workers. Under the registration campaigns, the workers
would sign indicating the desire to work 17 .
The success of the employment committee saw a replacement of the cheaper braceros’
workers with unemployed Americans. The tactics used to influence the changes included sit-
ins of the laborers to demonstrates the seriousness of the complaints been aired 18 . The tactic
of sit-ins was famous among the civil rights movement activists such as Martin Luther King
Junior in the 1960s through the 70s.
After some struggles, the federal officials agreed to investigate the issues, and thus
assurances were made to stop using the cheap bracero workers and replace them with the
unemployed Americans.
Farm Workers Association
Cesar formed the Farm Workers Association in 1962. However, the people who
enquired about the association were informed that it was movement aiming at identifying the
16. Shaw, Randy. Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century.
Los Angeles: University of California Press. 2008, p. 253.
17. Shaw, 258.
18. Rodman, Andrew. "Power Grape: Cesar Chavez's Labour Legacy". In Good Tilth, 2016.
https://igt.tilth.org/power-grapes-cesar-chavezs-labor-legacy/
6
number of Mexican workers and their individual needs 19 . As time moved, the labor union had
gathered adequate data for the formation of a trade union through persuading workers on the
importance of the movement. These activities were co-assisted by Cesar's wife and Dolores
Huerta. He ensured that he fully controlled the organization as he was the general director.
The second convention of the Farm Workers Association in 1963 at Delano saw the
beginning of the collection of membership dues. Later Cesar established a life insurance
policy to help in a massive accumulation of funds. The Farm Workers Association has later
rebranded the United Farmworkers (UFW).
Roles of the United Farm Workers
Under the leadership of Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers supported and
organized workers' strikes. These strikes were mostly aiming at advocating for better working
conditions for workers, better wages, and the rights of the workers 20 . Cesar and his
organization primarily supported the famous five years strike of the grape pickers and the
historic march to the capital of California. The boycott at the grape farms was supported by
other great leaders such as Walter Reuther, who went a step further to contribute $7,500 per
month 21 . The cash was used during the striking period for the workers for various purposes.
The strikes and demonstrations organized Cesar Chavez, and his organization was the
leading cause that led to the sprouting of other strikes across the country 22 . These strikes made
the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Public Welfare to have seating and
declared the support. After the seating of the committee, various policies were formulated to
favor and support the welfare of the workers.
19. Bardacke, Frank. Trampling Out the Vintage: Cesar Chavez and the Two Souls of the United Farm
Workers. New York and London: Verso 2011.
20. Shaw, Randy. Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century.
Los Angeles: University of California Press. 2008, p. 253
21. Rodman, Andrew. "Power Grape: Cesar Chavez's Labour Legacy". In Good Tilth, 2016.
22. See note 21 above.
7
Among the success of the union is the signing of the California Agricultural Labor
Relation Act by governor Jerry Brown in 1975. The act gave room for collective bargaining
of workers 23 . The collective bargaining helped in establishing better working conditions, gave
permission for trade unions, raised wages, and also establishment of life insurance policies
for workers. As the trade union gained support, other strategies were formulated to help in the
proper evaluation of the conditions of workers. These policies were in line with the human
rights acts that had been advocated by great leaders such as Martin Luther. The human rights
movements and labor relations were the cornerstones for the establishment of suitable
conditions to support the wellbeing of locals and foreigners in the United States.
Conclusion
The passion of Cesar Chavez was to form a labor union that will help in improving
the conditions of farmworkers. Although he had little or no money and less political
connections, he was able to achieve his dreams. Cesar Chavez is now a celebrated activist for
his role in promoting the wellbeing of the workers. Through forging the United Farm
Workers, Cesar challenged the established powerful political and economic interests and thus
paved the way for a new system of respecting and valuing farmworkers.
Bibliography
23. See note 20 above.
8
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Daniel, Cletus E. "Cesar Chavez and the Unionization of California Farm Workers." ed.
Dubofsky, Melvyn and Warren Van Tine. Labor Leaders in America. University of
IL: 1987.
Del Castillo, Richard Griswold and Garcia, Richard A. Cesar Chavez: A Triumph of
Spirit. Stillwater, Okla.: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997. ISBN 0-8061-2957-3
Etulain, Richard W. Cesar Chavez: A Brief Biography with Documents. Palgrave Macmillan.
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Pawal, Miriam. "Decisions of Long Ago Shape the Union Today". Los Angeles Times. 2006.
Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-history10jan10-story.html
Rodman, Andrew. "Power Grape: Cesar Chavez's Labor Legacy". In Good Tilth, 2016.
Retrieved from https://igt.tilth.org/power-grapes-cesar-chavezs-labor-legacy/
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Farm Workers: Distributed by El Taller Grafico, 1989. ISBN 0-9625298-0-X.
Shaw, Randy. Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the
21st Century. Los Angeles: University of California Press. 2008, p. 253. ISBN 978-0-
520-25107-6.
Smith, T. John. “Background Essay on Late 19 th and Early 20 th Century Immigration.” The
American History, 2019. Retrieved from https://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/513
Soto, Gary. Cesar Chavez: A Hero for Everyone. New York: Aladdin, 2003. ISBN 0-689-
85923-6 and ISBN 0-689-85922-8