Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican-American who fought for union and labor rights. He successfully improved

conditions for farm workers in California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida. Chavez was born in Arizona to

immigrant parents. He was inspired to call attention to farm workers’ rights when he encountered poor

conditions as his family moved up and down the state of California in search of work. He founded the

National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which joined with the Agricultural Workers Organizing

Committee to lead the first strike against grape growers in California. The two organizations later

merged to become the United Farm Workers. Chavez stressed nonviolent methods of resistance, and

called attention his causes through boycotts, marches, and hunger strikes. Chavez died in 1993.

JAMMIN’ one oh one five recognizes Cesar Chavez