Si Se Puede
"Si se Puede, si se puede, or yes you can, for those non-spanish speakers, was a phrase used by a migrant farm worker that became a leader of thousands and a role model for us all. Cesar E. Chavez was born March 31, 1927 and died April 23, 1993, in his 66 years of life Chavez touched and changed the lives of many farm workers and won the hearts and support of many political leaders. Through his tireless devotion and peaceful demonstrations Chavez proved "Si se puede," to many that had doubted him.Chavez was born on a farm in Yuma, Arizona, the second of 6 children. His father Librado Chavez was a hardworking man that prospered. In addition to his farm he operated the general store and was elected the local postmaster. "I had more happy moments as a child than unhappy moments," recalled Cesar. All was good for the Chavez family until Librado made a business deal with a neighbor that did not keep up his end of the bargain, which led to Librado owing the government $4080 in back taxes. Not able to pay the money the government took possession of Chavez's land and general store. The year was 1937, and the country had not yet recovered from the Great Depression, so jobs were hard to find. By 1938 the Chavez family had j
philosophical approach to the farm worker movement. While organizing the workers Chavez met Fred Ross, an organizer for the Community Service Organization (CSO) - a barrio based self-help group. Chavez was recruited and became a part time organizer for the group. He spent his days in the fields picking apricots and his nights getting farm workers registered to vote. Soon Chavez was a full time CSO organizer that was coordinating voter registration drives, battling racial and economic discrimination against Chicano residents, and organizing new CSO chapters across California and Arizona. Chavez served as the CSO national director in the late 1950's and early 1960's. By 1962, he could no longer stand to see the workers being taken advantage of, watching as they worked long hours for low pay. After failing to convince the CSO to commit itself to farm worker organizing, he resigned his paid position devoted all his time to organizing the farm workers into a union. From the beginning the UFW adhered strictly to the principals of non-violence practiced by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. The 1965 strikers took a pledge of non-violence and in 1968 Cesar began a twenty-five day fast to reaffirm the UFW's commitment to non-violence. Chavez called for a boycott on grapes and lettuce and the nation responded, finally the growers had no choice but to sign the contracts for more money and improved working conditions. Through the following decade Chavez and the UFW received support from Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who was with Chavez on the day he ended his twenty-five day fast, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and an entire nation. Chavez continued to fight for the rights of the workers using his non-violent methods till the da
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1169
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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