César E. Chávez was a Mexican American labor leader and civil rights activist best known for his tireless efforts to improve conditions for farmworkers in the United States. Born on March 31, 1927, near Yuma, Arizona, Chávez grew up in a migrant farmworking family during the Great Depression. Witnessing firsthand the harsh realities of agricultural labor—low wages, poor housing, and lack of workers' rights—he developed a lifelong commitment to social justice and dignity for the working class. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to California and became deeply involved in grassroots organizing.

In 1962, Chávez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Dolores Huerta, which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to form the United Farm Workers (UFW). Through peaceful protests, marches, fasting, and nationwide boycotts—most notably the Delano grape strike—Chávez brought national attention to the exploitation of farmworkers. He was a firm believer in nonviolence, inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his leadership helped secure groundbreaking labor contracts that improved wages, working conditions, and protections for thousands of agricultural workers.

Chávez’s legacy continues to inspire movements for workers' rights, Latino empowerment, and social justice. Although he passed away on April 23, 1993, his work laid the foundation for modern labor advocacy and community organizing. In recognition of his contributions, numerous schools, parks, and streets bear his name, and in 2014, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 31 as César Chávez Day, a federal commemorative holiday in several states. Chávez remains a symbol of courage, humility, and persistence in the ongoing struggle for equity and human dignity.