César Chávez (March 31, 1927 - April 23, 1993)
Chávez believed that unionizing was the only chance for farm workers to improve their working conditions. He resigned in 1962, increasingly frustrated because the CSO would not become involved in forming a farm workers’ union. He immediately established the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the UFW, an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). At the UFW’s first meeting in September 1962, in Fresno, California, Chávez’s cousin, Manuel Chávez, unveiled the flag that he and Chávez had designed for the new union—a black Aztec eagle in a white circle on a bold red background. The banner soon became the symbol of the farm workers’ struggle. Continue . . .
Source: "Chávez, César Estrada." Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, edited by Donna Batten, 3rd ed., vol. 2, Gale, 2010, pp. 344-346. From Gale Virtual Reference database.
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History & Literature Library Collection
Resources
- César Chávez FoundationThe César Chávez Foundation carries on his legacy by growing and adapting into a successful group of social enterprises that support working families, inspiring and transforming communities from rural to urban areas throughout the Southwest and across generations.
- American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people.
- The Farm Worker Movement
Farm workers play a crucial role in feeding the nation and ensuring the viability of commodities, yet they have suffered extremely poor working conditions for many years. Explore the early days of the United Farmworkers under the guidance of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.
From Films On Demand Database:
- Cesar Chavez: Background and Accomplishments Cesar Chavez devoted his life to improving working conditions, and awakened the country to the plight of farm laborers. He educates the audience on the history of nonviolent protests, with frequent references to Ghandi in this interesting speech.
- Cesar Chavez: "The Power of Nonviolence" Speech Cesar Chavez addresses an Ohio University audience in 1974, seeking support for a boycott.
Special thanks to EOPS for their collaborative efforts. To access the resources provided via the Chaffey College Library's databases, enter your MyChaffey Portal login information, when prompted.
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