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After his death he became a major historical icon for the Latino community, and for liberals generally, symbolizing militant support for workers and for Hispanic power based on grass roots organizing and his slogan "Sí, se puede" (Yes we can!) His importance as a Latino hero in American history is celebrated by birthday becoming a holiday in four states and that the [[United States Postal Service]] has released a stamp in his honor.

After his death he became a major historical icon for the Latino community, and for liberals generally, symbolizing militant support for workers and for Hispanic power based on grass roots organizing and his slogan "Sí, se puede" (Yes we can!) His importance as a Latino hero in American history is celebrated by birthday becoming a holiday in four states and that the [[United States Postal Service]] has released a stamp in his honor.

==Early Life==

==Early life==

He was born on March 31, 1927 on a farm near [[Yuma]], [[Arizona]] owned by his parents. His family lost their holdings during the [[Great Depression]] and moved to [[California]] to work in the fields.  Chavez attended numerous schools but never finished the eighth grade. Chavez served in the United States Navy 1944-1946, then worked in the fields until 1952. In 1952 he  became an organizer for the Community Service Organization ('''CSO'''), targeting police brutality. In 1958 he was elected executive director of the CSO.<ref>''The Story of Cesar Chavez'' (UFW Biography) http://lasculturas.com/biographies/214-civil-rights/112-cesar-chavez</ref>

He was born on March 31, 1927 on a farm near [[Yuma]], [[Arizona]] owned by his parents. His family lost their holdings during the [[Great Depression]] and moved to [[California]] to work in the fields.  Chavez attended numerous schools but never finished the eighth grade. Chavez served in the United States Navy 1944-1946, then worked in the fields until 1952. In 1952 he  became an organizer for the Community Service Organization ('''CSO'''), targeting police brutality. In 1958 he was elected executive director of the CSO.<ref>''The Story of Cesar Chavez'' (UFW Biography) http://lasculturas.com/biographies/214-civil-rights/112-cesar-chavez</ref>

==Farm Workers==

==Farm Workers==

In 1962 Chavez resigned from the CSO, moved to Delano, California, and founded the National Farm Workers Association ('''NFWA'''), precursor of the UFW. Dolores Huerta (b. 1930), was cofounder, first vice president and director of negotiations.<ref>Richard A. Garcia, "Dolores Huerta: Woman, Organizer, and Symbol." ''California History'' 1993 72(1): 56-71. Issn: 0162-2897 </ref>  Both Chavez and Huerta were personally mentored by Fred Ross,<ref>[http://action.ufw.org/page/s/fredross Ask President Obama to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cesar's mentor, Fred Ross Sr.]</ref> a close associate of [[Saul Alinsky]].

In 1962 Chavez resigned from the CSO, moved to Delano, California, and founded the National Farm Workers Association ('''NFWA'''), precursor of the UFW. Dolores Huerta (b. 1930), was cofounder, first vice president and director of negotiations.<ref>Richard A. Garcia, "Dolores Huerta: Woman, Organizer, and Symbol." ''California History'' 1993 72(1): 56-71. Issn: 0162-2897</ref>  Both Chavez and Huerta were personally mentored by Fred Ross,<ref>[http://action.ufw.org/page/s/fredross Ask President Obama to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Cesar's mentor, Fred Ross Sr.]</ref> a close associate of [[Saul Alinsky]].

At first, Chavez concentrated on building a grassroots power base among the field workers. In 1965 the NFWA first engaged in militant action by supporting a strike of Filipino grape pickers organized by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Larry Itliong.  Although the NFWA was weak, Chavez led his 2,000 members out on strike in support of the smaller group.  

At first, Chavez concentrated on building a grassroots power base among the field workers. In 1965 the NFWA first engaged in militant action by supporting a strike of Filipino grape pickers organized by the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) led by Larry Itliong.  Although the NFWA was weak, Chavez led his 2,000 members out on strike in support of the smaller group.  

From the beginning of the Delano grape strike, he had to improvise tactics to counter the greater power of the growers. In the spring of 1966 Chavez called for a consumer boycott of grapes and led a 300-mile (485-km) march from Delano to Sacramento, thereby bringing the grape pickers' struggle to the attention of the nation.  During the march Chavez issued the "Plan of Delano", a persuasive document that was designed to win support for crop-pickers on strike and for all oppressed minorities. The powerful rhetoric of the document reflected the turbulence of the Chicano and farmworkers' movements in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.

From the beginning of the Delano grape strike, he had to improvise tactics to counter the greater power of the growers. In the spring of 1966 Chavez called for a consumer boycott of grapes and led a 300-mile (485-km) march from Delano to Sacramento, thereby bringing the grape pickers' struggle to the attention of the nation.  During the march Chavez issued the "Plan of Delano", a persuasive document that was designed to win support for crop-pickers on strike and for all oppressed minorities. The powerful rhetoric of the document reflected the turbulence of the Chicano and farmworkers' movements in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s.

The media publicity surrounding the march and the grape boycott, and the endorsement by Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]] made it politically highly visible, especially on college campuses.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969] </ref>  In contrast to other Chicano leaders, Chavez espoused the principle of "militant nonviolence," a hybrid form of masculinity that had a decidedly religious tone to it and was strengthened by the Catholic Church's shifting of its role, under Pope John XXIII, toward helping the poor. Although many sectors inside the Chicano movement criticized Chavez for not being militant enough, writer and activist José G. Pérez helped patch the rift between the labor and Chicano movements by pointing out how their divisiveness only weakened the United Farm Workers union.<ref> Jorge Mariscal, "Negotiating Cesar: Cesar Chavez in the Chicano Movement." ''Aztlán'' 2004 29(1): 21-56. Issn: 0005-2604 </ref>  

The media publicity surrounding the march and the grape boycott, and the endorsement by Senator [[Robert F. Kennedy]] made it politically highly visible, especially on college campuses.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969]</ref>  In contrast to other Chicano leaders, Chavez espoused the principle of "militant nonviolence," a hybrid form of masculinity that had a decidedly religious tone to it and was strengthened by the Catholic Church's shifting of its role, under Pope John XXIII, toward helping the poor. Although many sectors inside the Chicano movement criticized Chavez for not being militant enough, writer and activist José G. Pérez helped patch the rift between the labor and Chicano movements by pointing out how their divisiveness only weakened the United Farm Workers union.<ref>Jorge Mariscal, "Negotiating Cesar: Cesar Chavez in the Chicano Movement." ''Aztlán'' 2004 29(1): 21-56. Issn: 0005-2604</ref>  

In 1966 the NFWA and AWOC merged into the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, ('''UFWOC'''), and affiliated with the AFL-CIO, with Chavez as head. He became the leader of a national effort to organize field workers. In 1968 Chavez fasted for 25 days to emphasize the nonviolent nature of his philosophy. By 1970 the boycott forced grape growers to sign UFW contracts. Monsignor George Higgins, nicknamed the "Labor Priest," helped move the Catholic bishops in California from neutrality to advocacy in the grape struggle. Higgins was a member of the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Farm Labor, created in 1969 to mediate between the UFW and the growers. In July 1970, the committee won a momentary victory as union and growers reached an agreement.  

In 1966 the NFWA and AWOC merged into the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, ('''UFWOC'''), and affiliated with the AFL-CIO, with Chavez as head. He became the leader of a national effort to organize field workers. In 1968 Chavez fasted for 25 days to emphasize the nonviolent nature of his philosophy. By 1970 the boycott forced grape growers to sign UFW contracts. Monsignor George Higgins, nicknamed the "Labor Priest," helped move the Catholic bishops in California from neutrality to advocacy in the grape struggle. Higgins was a member of the Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Farm Labor, created in 1969 to mediate between the UFW and the growers. In July 1970, the committee won a momentary victory as union and growers reached an agreement.  

Chavez's victory proved temporary, however, as a new fight almost immediately began when he attempted to organize workers in the lettuce fields. This time, the UFW faced a formidable opponent in the Teamsters Union.  Chavez used the boycott against lettuce growers in defiance of court orders. He was jailed for contempt of court. In 1973 he urged his followers to disobey court injunctions restricting UFW picketing, and 3,500 strikers went to jail. In 1975 his supporters won enactment of a California law giving farm workers the right to bargain collectively through a union of their choice. The Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA) gave farm workers protections similar to those accorded nonagricultural workers by the National Labor Relations Act ("Wagner Act" passed by Congress in 1935. Ironically, when ALRA enforcement by the state was at its most effective from 1975 to 1978, and the UFW was at the peak of its power, it  nonetheless suffered its sharpest decline in political influence. By the mid-1980s the unionized work force in the California fields was virtually destroyed owing to the overwhelming political, financial, and social power of California agribusiness and to tactical mistakes by Chavez.<ref>Miriam J. Wells and Don Villarejo, "State Structures and Social Movement Strategies: the Shaping of Farm Labor Protections in California." ''Politics & Society'' 2004 32(3): 291-326. Issn: 0032-3292 </ref>

Chavez's victory proved temporary, however, as a new fight almost immediately began when he attempted to organize workers in the lettuce fields. This time, the UFW faced a formidable opponent in the Teamsters Union.  Chavez used the boycott against lettuce growers in defiance of court orders. He was jailed for contempt of court. In 1973 he urged his followers to disobey court injunctions restricting UFW picketing, and 3,500 strikers went to jail. In 1975 his supporters won enactment of a California law giving farm workers the right to bargain collectively through a union of their choice. The Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRA) gave farm workers protections similar to those accorded nonagricultural workers by the National Labor Relations Act ("Wagner Act" passed by Congress in 1935. Ironically, when ALRA enforcement by the state was at its most effective from 1975 to 1978, and the UFW was at the peak of its power, it  nonetheless suffered its sharpest decline in political influence. By the mid-1980s the unionized work force in the California fields was virtually destroyed owing to the overwhelming political, financial, and social power of California agribusiness and to tactical mistakes by Chavez.<ref>Miriam J. Wells and Don Villarejo, "State Structures and Social Movement Strategies: the Shaping of Farm Labor Protections in California." ''Politics & Society'' 2004 32(3): 291-326. Issn: 0032-3292</ref>

With the UFW and Teamsters in competition, by 1980 the entry-level hourly wage moved up over $7, and working conditions had significantly improved. The UFW had 50,000 workers under contract and hundreds of militant activists and organizers.   

With the UFW and Teamsters in competition, by 1980 the entry-level hourly wage moved up over $7, and working conditions had significantly improved. The UFW had 50,000 workers under contract and hundreds of militant activists and organizers.   

[[Image:Chavez1969.jpg|thumb|280px|''Time'' magazine July 4, 1969]]

[[Image:Chavez1969.jpg|thumb|280px|''Time'' magazine July 4, 1969]]

==Image and Memory==

==Image and Memory==

On the highly symbolic date of July 4, 1969 ''Time Magazine'' featured Chavez on its cover and hailed him  as the "mystical" and "earthy" leader of the Mexican American civil rights movement, and the Chicano Martin Luther King Jr.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969] </ref> resident Bill Clinton awarded Chavez a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Post Office issued a first-class stamp with his picture in 2003; and California made his birthday an official state holiday. Schools, libraries, and streets have been named for him in California, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and other states.

On the highly symbolic date of July 4, 1969 ''Time Magazine'' featured Chavez on its cover and hailed him  as the "mystical" and "earthy" leader of the Mexican American civil rights movement, and the Chicano Martin Luther King Jr.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840167,00.html "The Little Strike That Grew to La Causa," ''Time'' July 4, 1969]</ref> resident Bill Clinton awarded Chavez a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom; the Post Office issued a first-class stamp with his picture in 2003; and California made his birthday an official state holiday. Schools, libraries, and streets have been named for him in California, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and other states.

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

==External Links==

==External links==

* [http://www.chavezfoundation.org/ Cesar E. Chavez Foundation]

* [http://www.chavezfoundation.org/ Cesar E. Chavez Foundation]

* [http://www.ufw.org/ UFW website]

* [http://www.ufw.org/ UFW website]