What were the early experiences that shaped Cesar Chavez's activism?
How did his background as a farmworker influence his fight for labor rights?
“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”
Cesar Estrada Chavez was born on March 31, 1927, in Arizona, to a Mexican American family. His family lost their farm during the Great Depression and became migrant farmworkers, moving across California to find work. Chavez experienced poverty, discrimination, and harsh working conditions from a young age.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, Chavez returned to farmwork and became involved in community organizing. He was inspired by the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., particularly their emphasis on nonviolence. Chavez believed that peaceful resistance was the most effective way to achieve justice for farmworkers.