Cesar Chavez (born César Estrada Chávez, locally: [ˈsesaɾ esˈtɾaða ˈtʃaβes]; March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993) was an American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist, who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later the United Farm Workers union, UFW).A Mexican American, Chavez became the best known Latino American civil rights activist, and was strongly promoted by the American labor movement, which was eager to enroll Hispanic members. His public-relations approach to unionism and aggressive but nonviolent tactics made the farm workers' struggle a moral cause with nationwide support. By the late 1970s, his tactics had forced growers to recognize the UFW as the bargaining agent for 50,000 field workers in California and Florida. However, by the mid-1980s membership in the UFW had dwindled to around 15,000.During his lifetime, Colegio Cesar Chavez was one of the few institutions named in his honor, but after his death he became a major historical icon for the Latino community, with many schools, streets, and parks being named after him. He has since become an icon for organized labor and leftist politics, symbolizing support for workers and for Hispanic empowerment based on grass roots organizing. He is also famous for popularizing the slogan "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, one can" or, roughly, "Yes, it can be done"), which was adopted as the 2008 campaign slogan of Barack Obama. His supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union laborers. Although the UFW faltered after a few years, after Chavez died in 1993 he became an iconic "folk saint" in the pantheon of Mexican Americans. His birthday, March 31, has become Cesar Chavez Day, a state holiday in California, Colorado, and Texas.
Children: Fernando Chavez, Eloise Chavez Carrillo, Anna Chavez Ybarra, Sylvia Chavez Delgado, Elizabeth Chavez Villarino, Anthony Chavez, Linda Chávez Rodríguez, and Paul Chavez.
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Over 40,000 people attended his funeral in Delano, California.
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Took a 25 day fast in 1968 to affirm UFW's commitment to nonviolence. The late senator Robert F. Kennedy flew to Delano, California to be with Chavez when he ended the fast. He called Chavez "one of the heroic figures of our time."
Joined U.S. Navy in 1945. Served in Pacific during end of World War II.
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Posthumously awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 1994 by President Bill Clinton. Only second Mexican American in history to be awarded this honor.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Legacy of Cesar Chavez
2009
Video short
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Andre: The Voice of Wine
2013
Documentary
Himself
The Fight in the Fields
1997
Documentary
Himself
Good Night America
1973
TV Series
Himself
The David Frost Show
1971
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Latin Explosion: A New America
2015
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Labor Leader
The Sixties
2014
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Cesar Chavez
2014
Himself (uncredited)
Cesar's Last Fast
2014
Documentary
Himself
Ethel
2012
Documentary
Himself
California's Gold
2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
1968 with Tom Brokaw
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The War: Soldados
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Chicano! History of the Mexican-American Civil Rights Movement