How Did Cesar Chavez Influence The Civil Rights Movement

Cesar Estrada Chavez was born on March 31, 1927. He was a Mexican- American civil rights activist during the American Civil Rights Movement. He was a union leader and labor organizer. Cesar founded the National Farm Workers Association in 1962. Throughout the Civil Rights Movement, Cesar Chavez gave people the hope they needed. On April 23, 1993, Cesar died of natural causes.

The National Farm Workers Association joined with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to form the United Farm Workers. Together, they worked to fight for improved working conditions for farmers. Chavez used nonviolent methods such as marches, boycotts, and strikes to fight for the cause. Chavez persevered through conflict with the Teamsters union and also through

These two men convinced Cesar to join the Community Service Organization. In 1962, Cesar resigned from his position in the organization. He did this to pursue his goal of making a labor union for farmers.

In September of 1965, the Farm Workers Association joined a strike started by Delano’s grape farmers. Cesar Chavez and his labor union became known all over the country within months. Chavez’s efforts made the grape boycott reach a national level. The boycott made the grape growers recognize and learn the power of the United Farm Workers. In 1968, Cesar Chavez went on a twenty five day fast to protest the increased support for violence among the members of the union. On July 29th, 1970, twenty six Delano grape growers signed a contract to bring peace to the fields and vineyards.

In 1970, the Teamsters labor union challenged the United Farm Workers by signing peace contracts with Salinas Valley farmers. This started a bloody conflict that lasted for four years. In 1973, the Teamsters Union signed a jurisdictional agreement that ended the conflict

These factors included dangerous pesticides and other chemicals, terrible workers rights, and the denial of free elections. Chavez claimed that the fast was to purify his soul, body, and mind. He also claimed that “The evil is far greater than even I had thought it to be, it threatens to choke out the life of our people and also the life system that supports us all. This solution to this deadly crisis will not be found in the arrogance of the powerful, but in solidarity with the weak and helpless. I pray to God that this fast will be a preparation for a multitude of simple deeds for justice. Carried out by men and women whose hearts are focused on the suffering of the poor and who yearn, with us, for a better world. Together, all things are possible.” Chavez completed his thirty six day fast on August 21, 1988. He called it the Fast for Life. This fast inspired many famous actors and politicians to fast for civil rights