Celebrating César Chávez

Mini Biography of César E. Chávez
(1927-1993)

Union Leader · Civil Rights Leader · Spiritual Leader
Environmentalist · Humanitarian ·  Activist for Social Justice

César E. Chávez (1927-1993) was a Mexican-American farm worker who served as a union and civil rights leader, environmentalist and humanitarian. He received numerous honors for his work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award, the highest honor awarded to a civilian, for bringing respect to farm workers. During March, we encourage people to think of the efforts of agricultural workers and how food is brought from farm to table.

César Chávez faced many hardships in his early years. His family lost their land during the Depression and they joined the 30,000 migrant farm workers that traveled to California. Throughout his youth, Chávez's family traveled from town to town, facing deplorable conditions. There was no running water and only one gas burner to share for cooking. Conditions at work were even worse than at home: workers bent over all day in the heat and harvested crops dusted with poisons. In 1942 César had to quit school and work in the fields when his father was killed in a car accident. After serving in the Navy, he met his wife Helen Fabela when he was 21 years old. Helen became an important companion in his farm worker movement. They lived in a barrio called “Sal Si Puedes” which in English means “get out if you can.”

In 1948 César met Father Donald McDonnell, who changed César's life by giving him a love for reading. McDonnell introduced the young man to books on labor history, St. Francis of Assisi and Gandhi. From these books, César learned about unions, nonviolence and sacrifice. These ideas reminded him of his family's morals. In 1952 CSO organizer Fred Ross met César and together they formed 22 civil rights groups in California. In 1962 César and Helen started to organize farm workers in Delano, California. César was kept busy organizing, so Helen picked grapes to support the family. In 1962 the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) was born. Their slogan was “Viva La Causa” or “long live our cause.” The NFWA was later to become the United Farm Workers (UFW).

In 1965 César Chávez and the NFWA joined the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in the famous Delano Grape Strike. The strikers wanted labor contracts, improved working conditions, better pay and pesticide control. César reminded the strikers of the need for nonviolence, and hundreds of people from all cultures, backgrounds and religions came to help. The strike gained national attention and was covered extensively by the media as “The Harvest of Shame.” The strike created a national boycott of grapes in which millions of Americans participated. César organized a 350-mile march in order to gain more public support, and went on three public fasts to protest violence used on both sides of the strike in 1968. By 1970, 85% of the grape growers in California had signed contracts with the United Farm Workers.

From 1970 to 1993 César Chávez and the UFW continued to boycott and strike for farm workers' rights. In 1975, due to Chávez's efforts, the Supreme Court outlawed the short-handled hoe, which caused worker back injury. By 1978 the union had 100,000 members and had won a contract with the largest lettuce grower in the U.S. In the 1980s César concentrated on environmental efforts, educating growers and the public about the dangers of pesticides. In 1988 César conducted a 36-day “fast for life.” Both the State of California and growers reviewed their use of pesticides. In 1993 Chávez received an honorary doctorate degree from Arizona State University and was honored because he believed in the value of education. He died in 1993 shortly after being honored, and his funeral was attended by over 40,000 mourners. Chávez is honored on March 31, his birthday and the national day of the César Chávez march. More information about our local march can be found at the San Antonio Chávez Foundation website. You can find out more about César Chávez by checking out our library resources.