California's Superman

        Living in Chico, California, we sit in the middle of a large valley between costal ranges and inland mountain ranges on the border of Nevada and California, the California Central Valley. For us students it provides hot summers to float down the river and during the mild winters were only a short drive from some of Americas best ski resorts. Also found in our Central Valley is the majority of the states 88,000 farms and ranches. Because of this valley, and the agricultural heritage of its people, California has secured its status as the most productive agricultural state for more than 50 years, and is currently a 32 billion dollar industry. An industry this big must have a large work force and unions to ensure fair wages and working conditions. Now this is the case, but in the mid 1900’s this was not the case.

        In the mid 1900’s, and today, the majority of farm workers are migrant workers. Anyone living in California knows that standing in the California Central Valleys unbearably hot summers in the middle of a farm for hours on end would be no walk in the park, personally when I drive by farms in my air conditioned car I can’t even begin to imagine doing it myself. To add to the already unbearable conditions; back in the mid 1900’s there wasn’t a set of guidelines on how farmers should pay their migrant workers or any standards for working conditions. This means workers were working unbearable hours, for ridiculous wages, possibly without water or rest room facilities, and if they couldn’t keep up with their work then there were 20 other people ready and willing to take their spot. Someone needed to make a change, and in 1952 that someone began his journey on his way to becoming one of California’s, and America’s, modern heroes.

        His name is Cesar E. Chavez. He was born March 31, 1927, on his grandfathers homesteaded farm near Yuma, Arizona. He began working as a migrant farm worker at the age of only 10 years old when his father lost the land during the great depression. He and his family traveled the Southwest laboring on fields and vineyards and left school permanently in 8^th grade to help support his family. In 1945 he joined the Navy and served through the end of WW II. He married Helen Fabela in 1948 and they settled down initially in the East San Jose barrio of Sal Si Puedes, or “get out if you can”. His journey for greatness began when he met a name by the name of Fred Ross in 1952 to gave Chavez a community organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO), a Latino civil rights group. Later in 1962 he moved to Delano, California and founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). In 1966 the NFWA merged with another union to form the UFW, United Farm Workers. He led a legacy of strikes against table and wine grape growers, some lasting longer than 5 years. He was a great believer in non-violence and even fasted for 25 days in 1968 to confirm UFW’s commitment to non-violent protest. All the while he was doing this for pay that never toped 5000$ once in his life. Cesar E. Chavez passed away on April 23, 1993, at the age of 66. More than 44,000 people participated in his funeral and he was awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Aguila Azteca.

        Thanks to Mr. Chavez migrant workers receive fair wages and “fair” working conditions, because you can’t escape the heat, all bundled up in nice contracts that include benefits for them and their families. The UFW continues to win elections and negotiate contracts for farm workers; keeping his dream alive and strong. Just to add a little icing on the cake to his great legacy, millions of Californian’s get this day, the anniversary of his birth, off from school and work to remember the great things he has done for out state, economy, and most importantly our people.