Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez leading a protest

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. He was best known for his efforts to gain better working conditions for thousands of workers. His great leadership helped migrant workers improve their terrible working conditions to a better way of life. Without Cesar's help, I don't even want to think what our society would be like.

Cesar Chavez gained ground for many farmers. Chavez and his United Farm Workers Union battled really hard. They all went on hunger strikes by protesting and by refusing to eat for long periods of time. Once on the year of 1968 he fasted for a long time, maybe 25 days. He protested for the support of the United Farm Workers (UFW). He was inspired to fast by Gandhi of India. This is one of the reasons why I admire him.

After everything, from battling hard, and fasting, they managed to negotiate some contracts. This wouldn't have happened without Cesar Chavez's peaceful tactics and for the awesome public support for his Union. Cesar Chavez not only contacted higher wages but he also got a better treatment for agricultural workers with the California Grape producers.

Unfortunately, Cesar Chavez died peacefully in the year of 1993. He died in his sleep in San Luis, Arizona where he testified against some vegetable growers. His funeral was attended by about 5,000 mourners. In Cesar's recognition the leader of Mexican American community awarded the Medal of Freedom which is the nation's highest civilian honor under his name.

For all these reasons, Cesar Chavez is my hero. I admire Cesar because he fulfilled his dream and also managed to accomplish his goal. I believe that Chaves is a humanitarian because he was concerned with improving bad living conditions and trying to prevent unfair treatment of people.