Cesar Chavez

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. Born in Yuma, Arizona, he began his working life as a... more

by M Spadecaller

Title

Cesar Chavez

Artist

M Spadecaller

Medium

Digital Art - Digital & Photographic Art

Description

Cesar Chavez was a Mexican American labor activist and leader of the United Farm Workers. Born in Yuma, Arizona, he began his working life as a manual laborer before serving two years in the United States Navy. Hardened by his early experience as a migrant worker, he became a prominent voice for farm workers. His dedicated leadership attracted national attention and significantly helped to improve the dreadful working conditions that migrant workers encountered.

President Barack Obama in 2014 proclaimed March 31st, Cesar Chavez's birthday, a federal holiday (Cesar Chavez Day). The holiday celebrates the legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist. An ardent advocate of nonviolence, Chávez was one of the most inspirational labor leaders of the 20th century. In 1962, he and a few others successfully set out to organize a union of farm workers. Most everyone told them it can’t be done.

When Robert Kennedy announced his candidacy to become the Democratic Party's next presidential candidate, he asked Chavez to run as a delegate in the California primary. Chavez traveled throughout California urging farm workers to support Kennedy. His activism was a contributing factor to Kennedy's victory. However, at the victory celebration in Los Angeles Robert Kennedy was assassinated. Kennedy's assassination came two months after that of Martin Luther King, generating growing concerns among the union that Chavez would also be targeted.

When candidate Barack Obama was campaigning for the presidency in 2008, he recited the motto of the United Farm Workers of America, Sí se puede—translated into English as "Yes we can."
“Cesar Chavez Portrait,” is a digital composite created in Spadecaller’s Florida studio.

Uploaded

March 6th, 2020