Cesar Chavez Estrada

Why Does Cesar Chavez Estrada need to be researched and what significant contribution did he made to the development of California

Answer

For some reason or another, the time frame for the story of Cesar Chavez would seem more appropriate in the thirties rather than the sixties. The possibilities of migrant workers confronting growers to better their lot were laughable, as the growers were powerful and well organized. The workers were virtually helpless. Chavez had persistently built up the union though. Even if it seemed to be an exercise in futility, his experience with CSO (Community Service Organization), as national director, helped prepare him for the struggle ahead. He had already learned of the tactical advantages of non-violence. He was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Emeliano Zapata, as well as Jesus Christ. Most of his supporters and members were of the idealists group, not very powerful. Chavez himself had only a seventh grade education, acquired in over 30 schools as the family went from place to place. (Collins) Lack of a formal education was not important to Chavez. He was innately capable of learning swiftly, and had the added asset of being charismatic, both on and off television.

Chavez gave up his job with CSO as it wasn't accomplishing what he wanted - a union. However his time was not wasted as Saul Alinsky was founder of CSO, and no doubt influenced Chavez a great deal. Alinsky was always a man for fighting causes. Chavez was in good company at an early age. Alinsky's background was backing the CSO. But money was short, and a raffle was held to pay the first month's rent on the office space. Some chairs and a desk were donated by a liberal Democrat from Palo Alto, California who was interested in their endeavors. Of Course, Chavez was motivated by the grave injustices he witnessed and lived as a boy. His dream was the union that would remedy all of these unjust social conditions.

However, instead of being a bellicose and "pushy" leader, Chavez is very quiet, but convincing. In 1969 there were 2,200,000 Mexican-Americans in California, many of whom were farm workers. Eighty-four percent of the Valley farm workers earned less than the federal poverty level amount of $3100. For example, in Fresco County, more than eighty percent of the welfare cases were from farm families. Cesar Chavez became the spokesman for these families.

As the United Farm Workers grew, it reached 50,000 members by 1968. Typical of Chavez, he would not allow people in the union to be identified with numbers. He felt it was too cold and impersonal, even though it cost more money for record keeping and so forth. When Cesar Chavez worked for Saul Alinsky as CSO, he complained about raises too much, and never put in for meal expenses reimbursement while on the road. Obviously, Mr. Chavez was not in this for the money, at least not for himself. Chavez is like no union man that we ...