When one thinks of great people in history who stood up for what they believed in helping other using non-violence, one thinks Martin Luther King Jr. Ghandi, and Rosa Parks but this Hispanic American stands among them.
Cesar Chavez born in Yuma ,Arizona in 1927 and when his family lost their home in the Great Depression they
Whole family had to work in migrant labor camps in California. His parents taught him about the importance of education, even though he was forced to leave school in eighth grade to help his family earn money for the family to survive, hard work and respect for others. His parents also felt it was always important to help others and made their children help others as part of their everyday life.
Cesar continued to help other by joining the navy. Once out of the navy he worked for the Community Service Organization, a self-help group for farm workers. 1962, he left the CSO to organize wine grape pickers in California and formed the National Farm Workers Association
Using strikes, fasts, picketing, and marches, he was able to obtain contracts from a number of major growers. 1972 (AFL-CIO) helped Cesar organize the United Farm Workers, with Chavez as its president. In 1980 Chavez fasted to protest the use of pesticides on the grape farms along with his fast there were strikes and boycotts and finally and agreement was met. He believed in non-violent ways to get his point across and remembering to always help others.
Chavez dedicated his life to improving the treatment, pay and working conditions for farm workers.
Video 3 minutes
http://www.biography.com/people/cesar-chavez-9245781/videos/cesar-chavez-mini-biography-82441283798
1 Minute video description
http://www.biography.com/people/cesar-chavez-9245781/videos/cesar-chavez-working-for-freedom-26180163942
website with authentic photos of his life
http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/Lessons/Resources/Biographies/K-2_Bio.aspx
****My students have a leveled reader on this person to read. I will share this biography on my weebly site for homework so they can view those videos and authentic primary source photos about his life.