Heroes for a Better World

César Chavez
(1927-1993)

Mexican-American Labor Leader, Civil Rights Activist
Points of Light Foundation Extra-Mile Honoree
1992 Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
1994 Presidential Medal of Freedom
Gandhi Peace Award Winner
Labor Hall of Fame

birthdate: March 31
birthplace:
Yuma, Arizona

When he was ten years old, Cesar Chavez's family lost their farm in Arizona, and they became migrant farm workers, traveling across California and the American Southwest. When Cesar Chavez finished the eighth grade, his father was injured, so he dropped out of school to support the family as a full-time migrant worker. At an early age, he saw the discrimination and difficult conditions for very little pay that migrant workers faced. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Cesar Chavez returned to working in the fields and began to help organize farm workers to speak out for their rights. In 1962 he helped found the National Farmworkers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers union (UFW). Using nonviolent methods such as pickets, strikes and national boycotts as well as fasting to gain national attention, Cesar Chavez and the UFW were able to help change labor laws giving more rights to farm workers. The year after he died, he was posthumously awarded the highest American civilian award - the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton who stated, "The farm workers who labored in the fields and yearned for respect and self sufficiency pinned their hopes on this remarkable man who, with faith and discipline, soft spoken humility and amazing inner strength, led a very courageous life." Cesar Chavez's life is a heroic example for all who work nonviolently for social change.


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