Cesar Estrada Chavez

Born:

March 31, 1927, Yuma, Arizona, USA

Died:

April 23, 1993, San Luis, Arizona, USA

Nationality:

American

Profession(s):

Labor Leader, Civil Rights Activist

Early Life and Education

• Born on a small farm near Yuma, Arizona.
• Family lost their farm during the Great Depression and became migrant farm workers.
• Completed formal schooling through the 8th grade to work in the fields.
• Experienced firsthand the hardships and injustices faced by farmworkers.

Career and Major Achievements

• 1952: Became an organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO), advocating for Latino civil rights.
• 1962: Co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later the United Farm Workers (UFW).
• Organized strikes and boycotts, most notably the Delano grape strike (1965-1970), to demand fair wages and working conditions for farmworkers.
• Successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements with major agricultural companies.
• Advocated for nonviolent resistance and drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Notable Works

• Co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), later the United Farm Workers (UFW).
• Led the Delano grape strike (1965-1970).
• Established the UFW credit union and service center.

Legacy and Impact

Cesar Chavez's activism significantly improved the lives of farmworkers and inspired social justice movements across the United States. The biography of Cesar Chavez is testament to his tireless advocacy for fair labor practices and the rights of marginalized communities.

Awards and Recognition

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