Haylee Jones, Dixie State University
Humanities
Cesar Chavez, who experienced poverty and exploitation by way of labor practices as an adolescent, became a man who committed himself to making a positive impact on the working conditions for immigrant farm workers in America. He left a fading footprint that others have been reluctant to follow. This paper will examine various role models like Juana Estrada Chavez, Chavez’s mother, and Dolores Huerta, Chavez’s closest associate, who were big influences in Chavez’s decision to become a leader in the civil rights movements as explained by author Kathleen Krull. Authors Susan Ferriss and Ricardo Sandoval elucidated on many of Chavez’s achievements such as the organization of the United Farm Workers (UFW), a group created to unionize immigrants, and the orchestration of nonviolent strikes and marches to expose the unfair treatment of multi-ethnic farm workers. Although Chavez persuaded California to sign contracts that discriminated against biased pay and working conditions, many immigrants still work longer, more strenuous hours than the average American to receive only $2.00 an hour and live in beat down shacks they are forced to call home. Cesar Chavez had a vision that should be remembered and re harvested among Americans everywhere in order to continue improving working conditions of all citizens, no matter where they are from.