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Cesar Chavez

by Kaiyanne Long from San Diego, California in United States

There's no turning back. We will win. We are winning because ours is a revolution of mind and heart.

My hero showed courage and bravery throughout his journey to free people from terrible working conditions. To me, a hero isn't necessarily a superhero in Marvel or DC comics; a hero to me is a leader who shows dedication towards making a society a better place. My hero, Cesar Chavez was born March 31, 1927, near Yuma, Arizona. When he was ten, Chavez and his family lost their farm in 1937 and moved to the US and started working in the fields. As he grew older, Chavez went to serve in World War ll. When he came back, he started working in the fields again and married Helen Fabela in 1948 (Cesar Estrada Chavez). When he returned to the fields he noticed that there were poor working conditions for the farm workers and they didn't get equally paid. From seeing how other farm workers were treated, Chavez Chavez dedicated his life to improving the treatment, pay, and working conditions for farm workers.  For the betterment of the migrant workers Chavez founded the National Farm Workers association in 1962. He brought national awareness to the dangers of pesticides to workers’ health. Unfortunately, Chavez died in his sleep on April 23, 1993, at age 66 (Cesar Estrada Chavez), but he remained a true hero because of his leadership to inspire others to take action toward things that they are passionate about and dedication toward the migrant workers. Cesar Chavez is an inspiration because of his leadership and his dedication, which led him to inspire others and fight for human rights.

133381https://commons.wikimedia.orgWarren K. Leffler [Public domain]Cesar Chavez showed great leadership toward the farm workers for their human rights to get paid equally and work in better conditions. When Chavez realized that the farm workers worked in horrible conditions without food and water, in the sun all day, there was a high chance for them to get sick. After Chavez realized how bad conditions were for the farmers, he tried wanted to make it better. “Chavez dedicated his life to improving the treatment, pay and working conditions for farm workers” (Cesar Chavez). Chavez wanted to gain better working conditions for the thousands of workers who labored on farms for low wages and under severe conditions. He was a Mexican American leader who stopped the farmers and kept them healthy because of everything that causes them to work hard and still not get paid enough. Chavez realized that the farmers were working in poor conditions. He wanted to do something significant about this problem and have the farmers get equally paid and to work in better conditions. The farmers realized that Chavez was starting to make a difference, which caused the farmers to follow and support what he was doing. Chavez realized that the farmers were living and working in horrible conditions, so he wanted people to follow him in what he was doing. “Chavez led California grape pickers on a five-year strike” (Cesar Estrada Chavez). The grape boycott was a movement that showed his leadership when the other migrant workers were scared to stand up for what they deserved. There were a lot of followers supporting Chavez and what he was doing to the migrant farmers. As you can see, Cesar Chavez wanted the farm workers to work in better conditions and to be able to support their families as much as they could. Chavez also spent most of his life wanting the workers to get equally paid and for them not to get sick from the pesticides.  

133384https://upload.wikimedia.orgNational Archives at College Park [Public domain]Chavez showed great dedication towards the farm workers and how they can get equally paid and so they can have human rights as everyone else. Chavez wanted to have the farm workers have equal rights and to get paid equally. “Chavez and his union won several victories for the workers when many growers signed contracts with the union” (Cesar Chavez). This was important and brave of Chavez to have the contracts signed to have the farmers work in clean conditions and have equal payments for working long hours in the sun and working hard every day. This is also very successful because now they can work in the fields and have doctors there as well in case they get sick from the pesticides. Chavez wanted the farm workers to work in better conditions and for them not to get sick with all the pesticides. “From 1964 to 1980, wages of California migrant workers had increased 70 percent, health care benefits became a reality and a formal grievance procedure was established” (Encyclopedia of World Biography Online). This is important because the farm workers follow Chavez because they inspire him and how he’s a leader to impact others and have them stand up to what they think is right. Without the farm workers supporting Chavez, this wouldn't have been established. Cesar Chavez worked hard and spent a lot of time making sure that the farm workers had equal payment due to their hours in the fields and that they can be able to not get sick by the pesticides. Chavez got the contracts signed and now it’s published so the farmers could have equal human rights.

Cesar was an inspiration to all the migrant workers because he fought for human rights by showing determination and great leadership. Chavez was a migrant worker for most of his childhood with his family because they lost their farm. They had to endure hard working conditions in hot sun for about 12 hours with little food and water. Some farm workers got sick because of the pesticides and having poor working conditions and shelter. Cesar Chavez noticed all of this and took a stand to stop this from happening, so he led marches and went on hunger strikes. He also got the contracts signed so the farmers could work in better conditions and have better shelter to live in and to provide for their families easier. Cesar Chavez inspires me and others because of what he did for every one of the farm workers. He had the contracts signed and the payment of the farmers go up by 70 percent (Cesar Chavez). He will always be remembered for what he did. This is what a true hero must possess: the leadership and dedication to take a stand in what they think is right. Cesar Chavez will always be remembered as a brave leader who dedicated his life for equal rights.

"Cesar Chavez." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, Gale, 1998. Biography In

   Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc631001313/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC

=64cdb6bd. Accessed 26 Apr. 2019.

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631001313/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC xid

=64cdb6bd. Accessed 26 Apr. 2019.

"Cesar Estrada Chavez." Merriam Webster's Biographical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster,

1995. Biography In Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1680131457/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC xid

=5b07c020. Accessed 26 Apr. 2019.

"Cesar Estrada Chavez." Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History, edited by Thomas

Carson and Mary Bonk, Gale, 1999.

Biography In Context,https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1667000031/

BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC

xid=c36b5c78.

Accessed 26 Apr. 2019.

Editors, History.com. “Cesar Chavez.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009,

www.history.com/topics/mexico/cesar-chavez.



Page created on 5/8/2019 3:47:56 PM

Last edited 5/14/2019 6:02:57 PM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

United farm workers - Story and life about Cesar Chavez and how he got to be remembered.
Cesar Chavez Foundation - This website explains how Cesar Chavez helped the migrant farmers.