Cesar Chavez’s FWA Saanvi Kunisetty

 Cesar Chavez’s FWA

Saanvi Kunisetty

Since they began arriving at the United States, Latino Americans have faced a lot of discrimination and inequity regarding certain rights that are to be granted to Americans. Due to this, many people began fighting for their rights, one such person being Cesar Chavez. Though he had an uneducated and poor lifestyle and background as a child, he grew up to fight for farmworker’s rights, with the issue first being brought to his attention when his family moved to California to become migrant workers. Throughout his life, he suffered a lot of pain while still embracing his non-violent tactics, which ultimately brought him and the farmworkers victory. He started the Farm Workers Association (FWA) which gained popularity throughout the nation after their grape workers’ strike. The group aimed to lower labor wages, and ultimately just provide Latino Americans with a better lifestyle. One of the tactics that the FWA used was the use of nonviolence in an attempt to make change, which was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophies. It was implemented through boycotts, strikes, protests, marches, fasts, and more. Another one of tactics he used was gaining trust of supporters and followers through religious faith and fervor. By acknowledging his following of the Catholic Church, which many other people also followed, a majority of people were more likely to side with his beliefs. 

Resources:

https://www.npr.org/2016/08/02/488428577/cesar-chavez-the-life-behind-a-legacy-of-farm-labor-rights#:~:text=Chavez%20modeled%20his%20methods%20on,Francis.