César Chávez was an important Latino civil rights activist in the 1960s and 1970s. He is best known for his work co-founding the farm labor movement (which later became known as the United Farm Workers) with Dolores Huerta. He led peaceful protests to demand fair wages and better working conditions for all farm laborers. Chávez led marches, sit-ins, and boycotts — one of the most famous was the 1965-1970 Delano Grape Strike and Boycott in which he not only led his union members onto the picket line but also encouraged consumers to boycott table grapes to protest the horrible working conditions of the people who had picked those grapes.
César Chávez Day is usually celebrated on Chávez’s birthday, March 31st, and is a holiday in the state of California. The United Farm Workers’ hopeful rallying cry “Si se puede!” can be translated roughly as “Yes, it can be done!” and is still a popular protest motto today. César Chávez is admired for his dedication to his cause and the way he led by example.
Here are some lesson links:
United We Stand (Grades 3-5)
Standing Up to Power with Cesar Chavez (middle school)
NEA Cesar Chavez resources