Civil Rights Leader: Cesar Chavez In the mid to late 20th century many started to fight back against social, racial, and economic injustices. Movements concerning civil rights were rampant with a variety of different groups of people coming together in hopes of obtaining their given rights. Spanish-Americans in specific faced a multitude of labor problems during this era, including things like discrimination, low wages, and being underrepresented. Spanish-Americans were detrimental to America’s labor force during the mid 20th century and this would cause many to rise up, advocating for better working conditions. Cesar Chavez was one of these major activists, famously known for holding protests and advocating for the rights of farmworkers. Chavez
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He then met Father Donal McDonell, who influenced Chavez about hunger strikes. He then began to read more about nonviolent actions and not long after, he met Fred Ross who was a very popular community organizer. Chavez ended up quitting his job and joined Ross, becoming a “full-time organizer for the Community Services Organization (CSO).” In 1962 he along with Dolores Huerta formed the National Farm Workers Association, later on known as the United Farm Workers (UFW). Through the UFW’s involvement, he was able to lead many hunger strikes such as the grape strike which took place in Delano, California in September of 1965. He and the organization encouraged people to not buy or sell any grapes. This boycott lasted five years because then the UFW finally “got grape growers to accept union contracts”. The UFW was a big help to Chavez as it attracted national headlines, helping many farmers gain contracts that included improved working conditions and higher wages. Just like any other civil rights activist or leader, Chavez faced backlash, still he never got discouraged and he continued to lead even more
He then met Father Donal McDonell, who influenced Chavez about hunger strikes. He then began to read more about nonviolent actions and not long after, he met Fred Ross who was a very popular community organizer. Chavez ended up quitting his job and joined Ross, becoming a “full-time organizer for the Community Services Organization (CSO).” In 1962 he along with Dolores Huerta formed the National Farm Workers Association, later on known as the United Farm Workers (UFW). Through the UFW’s involvement, he was able to lead many hunger strikes such as the grape strike which took place in Delano, California in September of 1965. He and the organization encouraged people to not buy or sell any grapes. This boycott lasted five years because then the UFW finally “got grape growers to accept union contracts”. The UFW was a big help to Chavez as it attracted national headlines, helping many farmers gain contracts that included improved working conditions and higher wages. Just like any other civil rights activist or leader, Chavez faced backlash, still he never got discouraged and he continued to lead even more