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  Chávez, César
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
 
NameCésar Chávez
Address
Keene, California , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born March 31, 1927
DiedApril 23, 1993 (66 years)
ContributorThe Oncoming Storm
Last ModifedJuan Croniqueur
Dec 18, 2023 01:55am
Tags Hispanic - Navy - Union Member -
InfoHe founded the National Farm Workers Association that later became the United Farm Workers.

Chávez was born near Yuma, Arizona. He became a migrant farm worker at age 10, with the rest of his family, when they lost their farm during The Great Depression. He attended over 30 schools, but ended his formal education with the eighth grade.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1946 and served in the western Pacific. After service, he returned to central California and married Helen Fabela. He began working as a organizer in 1952, working for the Community Services Organization, a Latino civil rights group. He became their national director in the late 1950s, but resigned in 1962 to form the National Farm Workers Association, which became the United Farm Workers. He was trained in organizing by Fred Ross, himself a student of Saul Alinsky.

In 1965, Chávez and the NFWA led a strike of California grape-pickers in demand of higher wages, along with a national boycott of California table grapes, which, five years later resulted in the first major victory for US migrant workers. He continued to struggle against large growers, including going on three hunger strikes over wages and conditions. At the time of his death he was leading another grape boycott to protest the use of harmful pesticides.

He became an American labor rights hero for supporting labor rights for Mexican migrant farm workers. Chávez was also an ethical vegetarian and a strong proponent of nonviolence.

Chávez is celebrated in California where the state legislature, in 2000, approved a bill to create a paid state holiday in his honor. The holiday is celebrated on March 31st, Chávez's birthday. Texas also recognizes the day, as does Denver, and in Arizona and Colorado it is an optional holiday. The holiday is the first in the history of the United States for a Mexican American and a labor leader.

Many cities have also paid respect by renaming streets or schools for him. These cities include San Francisco, Los Angeles, California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Austin, Texas Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Washington, DC, and Salt Lake City. The California cities of Sacramento, Berkeley, and San Jose have also renamed parks in his memory. The United States Postal Service honored him with a stamp in 2004.

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JOB APPROVAL POLLS

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor
Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez  Purchase The Oncoming Storm 

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor

DISCUSSION
Importance? 8.00000 Average

FAMILY
Wife Helen Fabela Chávez Oct 22, 1948-Apr 23, 1993
Daughter Linda Chávez Rodriguez 1951-2000
Granddaughter Julie Chávez Rodriguez 1978-

INFORMATION LINKS
Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient Cesar E. Chavez  Discuss
The Mexican-American and the Church - César Chávez  Discuss
RACES
  07/15/1976 US President - D Convention Lost 0.03% (-74.45%)
  07/13/1972 US Vice President - D Convention Lost 0.17% (-58.90%)
ENDORSEMENTS
US President - D Primaries - Jun 03, 1980 D Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr.
Oakland Mayor - Jun 01, 1977 D Lionel Wilson
US President - D Primaries - Jul 01, 1976 D Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr.
US President - D Primaries - Jun 06, 1972 D George S. McGovern
US President - D Primaries - Jun 11, 1968 D Robert F. Kennedy