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From Migrant Farm Worker to Social Justice Leader
From Migrant Farm Worker to Social Justice Leader
Cesar Chavez speaks at rally (1977) by Cathy Murphy, courtesy of Getty Images.
by Giselle Escobar
The name Chávez originates from the Portuguese word for “keys,” much as César was the “key” to farm workers rights (“Chavez”). The César Chávez Foundation says it best: “As a common man with an uncommon vision, César Chávez stood for equality, justice and dignity for all Americans.” His legacy is honored in various ways, like at the University of Michigan with a multicultural lounge in the Mosher Jordan Residence Hall. Despite having no direct affiliation with the university, the lounge named in his honor “recognize[s] the activism and accomplishments of underrepresented groups” (“Multicultural”) and is a place for students to go to study or hang out, while also bringing awareness to Chávez’s fight.
Chávez was a "first generation American" born in 1927 "near his family’s small homestead outside Yuma, Arizona" (“About”). He and his family became migrant farm workers during the depression in 1938, having to give up his education to support his family (“About”). Chávez's experience was filled with long, difficult hours, lacking respect and dignity (“American”). All of this allowed Chávez to not just be aware of the injustices happening but also to experience them. Still, he "joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II and served in the Western Pacific" ("About").
Inside of the Cesar Chavez Multicultural Lounge, September 20, 2024 by Giselle Escobar.
Photo of Cesar Chavez speaking to demonstrators in Foley Square (Jan. 1971) by Frank Hurley courtesy of NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images.
Later in life, Chávez met Fred Ross (“American”), a “trailblazer for social justice” who founded the Community Service Organization (CSO) in 1947 (“Fred”). In 1952, Ross recruited Chávez to work with him forming CSO chapters across California and Arizona, building a highly influential Mexican American organization (Thompson; "Cesar Chavez Multicultural"). After his work with the CSO, Chávez founded the National Farm Worker Association to advocate for the improvement of working conditions for farm workers (“American”). After five years of marches, protests, strikes, and boycotts, Chávez was able to bring justice to farm workers; employers began paying fair wages, and the first Bill of Rights for agricultural workers was enacted (“Cesar”): the Agricultural Labor Relations Act of 1975 (“About”).
Today, César Chávez is widely recognized for his accomplishments. From school to parks and libraries to streets named in his honor, Chávez legacy lives on across the globe, including here at UM, where the lounge named after him serves to inspire generations of Wolverines to find their own voice and lead positive change in the world like Chávez.
Works Cited
“About Cesar Chavez.” Cesar Chavez Foundation, chavezfoundation.org/about-cesar-chavez/#1551298509556-0f6ea0b5-b986. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
“An American Hero the Biography of César E. Chávez.” California Department of Education, chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/Lessons/Resources/Biographies/K-2_Bio.aspx Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
“Cesar Chavez, Labor Leader, Civil Rights Activist & Champion of Human Rights.” United for Human Rights, humanrights.com/voices-for-human-rights/cesar-chavez.html. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
"Cesar Chavez Multicultural Lounge." Michigan Housing, University of Michigan, housing.umich.edu/cultural-lounge/cesar-chavez/. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
“Chavez: Origin and Meaning of First Name.” Ancestry.Com, ancestry.com/first-name-meaning/chavez#:~:text=The%20name%20Chavez%2C%20originating%20from,Christian%20population%20in%20the%20region. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
Escobar, Giselle. Inside of the Cesar Chavez Multicultural Lounge, 20 Sept. 2024. Author's personal collection.
“Fred Ross, Sr.” California Museum, 6 May 2024, californiamuseum.org/inductee/fred-ross-sr/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Hurley, Frank. Photo of Cesar Chavez speaking to demonstrators in Foley Square. Jan. 1971, NY Daily News Archive, Getty Images. gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/cesar-chavez-speaking-to-demonstrators-in-foley-square-news-photo Accessed 22 Oct. 2024
“Multicultural Community Spaces.” Michigan Housing, University of Michigan, housing.umich.edu/multicultural-lounges-and-spaces. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Murphy, Cathy. "Cesar Chavez Speaks At Rally." 1977, Getty Images https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/american-labor-leader-and-co-founder-of-the-united-farm-news-photo/96525120 Accessed 22 Oct. 2024
“The Story of Cesar Chavez.” UFW.org, United Farm Workers, ufw.org/research/history/story-cesar-chavez/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Thompson, Gabriel. “Profile: Fred Ross.” ZinnEdProject.org, Zinn Education Project, 25 Nov. 2022, zinnedproject.org/materials/ross-fred/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
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