A, B, Cesar Chavez’s Life

A, B, Cesar A, B, Cesar Chavez’s LifeChavez’s Life

By Yours Truly: By Yours Truly:

Jett Grayson Jett Grayson

IntroductionIntroduction

Cesar Chavez was an activist in the Cesar Chavez was an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. He Civil Rights Movement. He nonviolently brought attention to the nonviolently brought attention to the group of farm workers.group of farm workers.

He was a Union leader.He was a Union leader.

AfterAfter

After working as a director for workers’ After working as a director for workers’ rights in the 1950’s, Cesar Chavez rights in the 1950’s, Cesar Chavez built the National Farm Workers built the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), in 1962.Association (NFWA), in 1962.

BecauseBecause

Because of his choice of nonviolent Because of his choice of nonviolent protests, including fasts, to achieve his protests, including fasts, to achieve his goals, he has been compared to goals, he has been compared to Gandhi.Gandhi.

CesarCesar

Cesar Chavez organized the first Cesar Chavez organized the first successful major action against the successful major action against the employers of California’s exploited employers of California’s exploited migrant farmhands.migrant farmhands.

Dust BowlDust Bowl

The Dust Bowl took place in the The Dust Bowl took place in the 1930’s. Conditions in many farm areas 1930’s. Conditions in many farm areas and the desperate economic situation and the desperate economic situation forced thousands upon thousands of forced thousands upon thousands of families to become migrant farm families to become migrant farm workers.workers.

EarnedEarned

Cesar Chavez’s effort in his position Cesar Chavez’s effort in his position earned him many allies, such as earned him many allies, such as Robert F. Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson.Robert F. Kennedy, and Jesse Jackson.

FromFrom

From his young age of 10, he worked From his young age of 10, he worked in the fields. He also earned money in the fields. He also earned money from selling cigar wrappers. He didn’t from selling cigar wrappers. He didn’t attend school past the 7attend school past the 7thth grade.grade. By By the time he left school, he had the time he left school, he had attended 30attended 30 schoolhouses in schoolhouses in California.California.

Grape GrowersGrape Growers

The NFWA joined with the AWOC in The NFWA joined with the AWOC in their strike against grape growers in their strike against grape growers in California in 1965.California in 1965.

Hunger Hunger

Another form of protest Cesar Chavez Another form of protest Cesar Chavez used was hunger strikes, because he used was hunger strikes, because he thought it was a good way to spread thought it was a good way to spread the cause, even though it was the cause, even though it was unhealthy for him.unhealthy for him.

In 1968In 1968

In 1968, Cesar Chavez called for a In 1968, Cesar Chavez called for a national boycott with the Grape national boycott with the Grape Growers of California. This battle with Growers of California. This battle with growers would last for a long time.growers would last for a long time.

Joined NavyJoined Navy

In 1944, Cesar Chavez joined the Navy In 1944, Cesar Chavez joined the Navy and served his country in World War II, and served his country in World War II, and after completing 730 days of duty, and after completing 730 days of duty, he returned to California.he returned to California.

Killing GrapesKilling Grapes

In the 80’s, Cesar was doing In the 80’s, Cesar was doing community things around his town community things around his town when he saw people spraying their when he saw people spraying their crops with pesticides. Cesar got very crops with pesticides. Cesar got very mad and protested their actions.mad and protested their actions.

Lived Lived

The family of travelers called the The family of travelers called the Chavez family had to go though farms Chavez family had to go though farms picking the fruits and crops during the picking the fruits and crops during the harvest, often sleeping in their wagon.harvest, often sleeping in their wagon.

MarriageMarriage

Back in 1948, Cesar Chavez married Back in 1948, Cesar Chavez married the beautiful Helen Fabela, and they the beautiful Helen Fabela, and they lived a one-room shack Delano, lived a one-room shack Delano, California.California.

NationalNational

Cesar Chavez did many important Cesar Chavez did many important things for his country, like starting up things for his country, like starting up foundations, and always helping foundations, and always helping others.others.

OnceOnce

Once Chavez finished 8Once Chavez finished 8th grade,th grade, he put he put forth all of his effort to working in the forth all of his effort to working in the vine growing fields. His family was vine growing fields. His family was then able to buy a little house in San then able to buy a little house in San Jose, and they made it their home.Jose, and they made it their home.

PesticidesPesticides

Pesticides were used a lot, and Cesar Pesticides were used a lot, and Cesar Chavez did not like these pesticides Chavez did not like these pesticides because they were dangerous to because they were dangerous to workers’ health. He protested to bring workers’ health. He protested to bring awareness to everyone in the nation. awareness to everyone in the nation.

QuotesQuotes

Cesar Chavez once said Cesar Chavez once said “If you really “If you really want to make a friend, go to want to make a friend, go to someone’s house and eat with him…someone’s house and eat with him…the people who give you their food the people who give you their food give you their heart.”give you their heart.”

Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy

After Cesar Chavez and his followers After Cesar Chavez and his followers led the five year strike on growers of led the five year strike on growers of the grape, U.S. Senate Subcommittee the grape, U.S. Senate Subcommittee reconsidered the issue at hand, and reconsidered the issue at hand, and Robert Kennedy gave Cesar his full Robert Kennedy gave Cesar his full support.support.

SchoolSchool

Cesar started school when he was 7, Cesar started school when he was 7, and it was hard for him since he only and it was hard for him since he only spoke Spanish. He found it easier to spoke Spanish. He found it easier to learn from his family, who read books learn from his family, who read books to him at home.to him at home.

ToiledToiled

When he was a kid, Cesar’s relatives When he was a kid, Cesar’s relatives toiled in the plains as migrant farm toiled in the plains as migrant farm workers.workers.

Under pressureUnder pressure

Cesar was under a lot of pressure to Cesar was under a lot of pressure to lead a big organization, and he had lead a big organization, and he had many important duties. It must have many important duties. It must have been difficult to manage all that.been difficult to manage all that.

VoteVote

In 1952, Chavez met Mr. Fred Ross, In 1952, Chavez met Mr. Fred Ross, who was part of a group called the who was part of a group called the Community Service Organization Community Service Organization (CSO). Mr. Chavez joined forces with (CSO). Mr. Chavez joined forces with Mr. Ross & joined the CSO. He Mr. Ross & joined the CSO. He encouraged Mexican Americans to encouraged Mexican Americans to register and vote.register and vote.

WrongWrong

Cesar Chavez’s mother always taught Cesar Chavez’s mother always taught her children that violence and her children that violence and selfishness were wrong.selfishness were wrong.

XXXXXXVIXXXXXXVI

Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. He died on 1927 in Yuma, Arizona. He died on April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona.April 23, 1993, in San Luis, Arizona.

YoungYoung

Young Cesar Chavez had a very Young Cesar Chavez had a very difficult life. He had to deal with being difficult life. He had to deal with being excluded from activities with other excluded from activities with other kids, because they were discriminating kids, because they were discriminating against him and called him racial slurs.against him and called him racial slurs.

Zero ToleranceZero Tolerance Cesar Chavez had zero tolerance for Cesar Chavez had zero tolerance for

discrimination, not just against discrimination, not just against Mexicans, but against any person Mexicans, but against any person because he had been discriminated because he had been discriminated himself so he knew how it felt.himself so he knew how it felt.

ConclusionConclusion

Finally, Cesar Chavez’s efforts made Finally, Cesar Chavez’s efforts made an enormous impact on civil rights, an enormous impact on civil rights, and if he wouldn’t have achieved his and if he wouldn’t have achieved his goals, our lives today would be very goals, our lives today would be very different. For this reason, we should different. For this reason, we should always take time to honor and respect always take time to honor and respect the things he did.the things he did.

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.biography.com/people/cesar-chavez-

9245781http://www.incwell.com/Biographies/Chavez.html