How Did Cesar Chavez Contribute To The Chicano Movement

During the years of 1960 – 1974, The Hispanic Civil rights group made significant steps for equality for Hispanic people living in the United States of America. Also known as the Chicano Movement The group pushed for political and social freedom for Hispanics and other things such as Farming rights and worker rights. It was during this period that the famous Cesar Chavez become more involved in Hispanic and worker rights by founding the National Farm Workers Association and organizing strikes and protests. However, why did the Chicano Movement form during this time period and how did Cesar Chavez contribute to it? The Chicano Movement formed and found success during this time because of the discrimination that Hispanic farmers were facing and

On 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. and many other Black Civil Rights leaders staged the famous “March on Washington”. There Martin Luther Kings Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” Speech, where he argued that people judge each other on their character, rather than their race or how they look. The event had more than 200,000 participants and it is credited as one of the most important events in Black Civil rights. However, the awareness it brought to African- Americans, was also brought to other Minorities such as Hispanic- Americans. The message of the African American Civil rights groups was (for the majority of them) that it was unfair to discriminate against someone because of their race and they pushed for equality in society. This idea of equality regardless of race resonated in the Hispanic- American Community. The support that the Black Community received as a result of the “March on Washington” encouraged Hispanic- Americans that the same could happen for their community if they brought awareness to the issues they faced a Hispanic- Americans. So, like the African American community, started to organize protests and strikes to bring awareness to their community, forming to Chicano

and by becoming the leader associated with Hispanic- American rights. Many Hispanic- Americans were angry over the discrimination that they were facing and were optimistic that things could change, just as they were starting too for African Americans if they fought for it. However, the Chicano Movement needed a leader that they could unite under and one that would help orchestrate major events. This person was Cesar Chavez. Born in 1927 in Yuma, Arizona, Chavez was a Hispanic- American who worked in the fields of California for his early adult life. In 1952 he was introduced to labor organization and in 1962 he focused on farm workers rights and he formed his own union. The event that made Cesar Chavez famous was when he helped orchestrate a strike against grape fields for more worker rights and the recognizing of Worker unions. Chavez, following the tactics of Martin Luther King Jr. used nonviolent measures to force the grape fields owners to reconsider their stance. Chavez became the leader associated with Hispanic- American rights. He was the leader that united the Chicano Movement and in the following years he continued to fight for Hispanic- American rights and farm worker rights. Not only had Chavez unified the movement under one leader, he continued the fight until his death in