La Causa Now Sends a Bad Message

Lorena Garcia was a former gang banger. Photo taken by Elizabeth Contreras.

All the hard work Chavez tried to accomplish has now been ignored. All his efforts are long gone. Farm workers again suffer from the same injustices suffered a couple decades ago.

Cesar Chavez and farm workers movement is not news any more. There are no boycotts, strikes, protest, fasts. The United Farm Workers Association doesn’t require wineries to publish the black eagle on its products. But it still remains relevant problem in today’s world.

The black eagle however still remains seen by gang groups, the Nortenos.

Norteno’s history dates back to 1960 in prison cells.  They called themselves “Nuestra Familia” meaning our family. Nuestra Familia was a group of Chicano’s who had organized themselves to protect themselves from a powerful group called the Mexican Mafia who were terrorizing the prison cells.

Nuestra Familia members were forced to work on farms but they took pride in what they did. Over time problems grew stronger, there was a lot of tension and conflict amongst Nuestra Familia and the Mexican Mafia. Their problems elevated to shootings, killings, drug trafficking, as well as human trafficking.

“La Causa” as it was called for Cesar Chavez was non-violent and peaceful movement. But Nortenos have now taken gone to a whole other level, to shooting and killing, creating violence in our society.

Nortenos and Cesar Chavez cause was related. However, Nortenos in today’s community don’t care about “La Causa”  they don’t even know about the history no more. They shoot and kill just for the fun of it. They don’t care about the struggle of farm workers. They didn’t experience that, then why do they use Cesar Chavez and the black eagle?

Nortenos and farm workers at some point where fighting for the same cause. But now Nortenos don’t care if they are portraying a bad image of him.  They care about shooting, killing, and money.

Monterey County Jail: Honoring Chavez

Phot taken at Cesar Chavez Park by Elizabeth Contreras

During the month of March, many took time to honor Cesar Chavez.

The National Park Service will have a public meeting on May 3 in the Steinbeck Institute of Art and Culture to talk about sites that have to with Cesar Chavez and farm workers.

Places from Arizona and California are being considered. The old Monterey County Jail where Cesar Chavez was held prisoner in the 1970s, is being thought by the National Park Service as a site to honor Chavez and his struggle.

  In December 1970, according to thecalifornian.com Cesar Chavez had been imprisoned for refusing to end the lettuce boycott against Salinas Valley. He had many followers and many important people who supported him. During the two weeks of his imprisonment Chavez was visited by Coretta Scott King and Ethel Kennedy.

The Monterey County Jail on West Alisal Street is a three-story building which held male prisoners but most important none more important than Chavez. Cesar Chavez’s imprisonment caused a huge impact on people’s mind. After Chavez’s was released, many celebrities stopped coming to Salinas. In 1980, the jail was no longer used to hold and imprison inmates. I think is important to honor and remember the sites that relate to Chavez. It is a way for people in today’s society to learn about him and appreciate his dedication.

The H-2A VISA Program Attacks Farm Workers

According to http://www.ufw.org, The U.S. House subcommittee on Immigration Policy and enforcement had a hearing on April 13, 2011 in Washington, D.C. called “The H-2A Visa Program: Meeting the Growing Needs of American Agriculture.”

The United States does not have enough money to send thousands of immigrants back to their homeland. However, if immigrants would be deported back to their own country it would have a  strong impact on the U.S.  agricultural industry.

The existing H-2A program would bring thousands and thousands of more farm workers. Farm workers would exchange labor for low pay with little or no benefits. Sadly, after their work they would be used to take home. This program is unfair

Non-immigrant employers say that they will not challenge illegal conduct. Many abuse under the H-2A program, it goes as far as human trafficking.

The H-2A program is unfair for many immigrant farm workers. Immigrants are  just being used and exploited. Farm Work is very tiring work. Farm workers are exposed to dangerous pesticides and exposed to a lot of harmful UV rays.

It is unjust how their taking advantage of farm workers. They need to be protected and they should be treated like any other workers.

AgJobs offers farm workers stable work and makes sure their not being exploited. It offers the chance of immigrant farm workers to stay in this country and have a chance to work here legally if they work on agriculture.

An Untold Legacy Should Still Shine Bright

Banner vandalized. Photo taken by Elizabeth Contreras at Cesar Chavez Park

Most schools celebrate Cesar Chavez Day. But are students aware of the hard work and sacrifice  of Cesar Chavez and farm workers?

Many students are not aware of what Chavez has done. It is as important for students to know about Chavez as  it to learn of a Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Students take the day off, but they don’t know why. They don’t know that it is a day to remember a man who changed the life of many farm workers.

Schools should take one day and set up a day to remember important people who have influenced our community.

He was an important figure and schools should  take at least a day of the year to honor him. As well as to teach students about the  farm workers movement and how Chavez  made it possible.

So why is he not being remembered?

During my middle school and first three years of high school,  I remember we wouldn’t take the day off to honor Chavez. One day we asked the principal, “Why don’t we have this day off?” Our principle stated, “It’s not important. Many use it as an excuse to slack off”

Everyone was shocked. For me, it was do surprising to hear that it angered me especially since our principal was a Latino.

Many don’t consider what Chavez has done not even his own people.  I think schools should teach students about the farm workers movement because it is still a major problem affecting our society. If not, their going to disrespect what this man has done for his community.

Still No Justice on the Fields

 

Photo taken by Elizabeth Contreras

Farm workers today still suffer from the same injustices.

Farm workers have to face triple digit temperatures. They have to work under the hot sun for long hours for a job that pays minimum wage. They return home with an aching back and return  just to the same thing all over again the next day.

Farm workers are forced to work near dangerous pesticides and most of them are not given health insurance. Each year one billion pounds of pesticides are used on farms.

According to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine(2001) “California farm workers have elevated levels of Leukemia in stomach, brain cancer toxic pesticides are showing up in the bodies of 92% and 88% on their children.”http://www.wslc.org/legis/fw-pesticide.htm

Farm workers are paid miserably. The Department of Labour’s annual adjustment  stated that employers are expected to pay farm workers a R1 375.94 per month or an hourly rate of R7 .51 effective March 1, 2011.

Working on a farm to pick fruits and vegetables is a very tiring job, farm workers should be given more rights.  They are people who work really hard so we are able to have fruits and vegetables in our table.

Cesar Chavez’s Fasts for the Cause

Photo taken by Elizabeth Contreras

Cesar Chavez struggled a lot to help out his community.

In 1966, Cesar Chavez along with the UFW organized farm workers who walked 300 miles from Delano to Sacramento. Cesar Chavez as well as other farm workers wanted the government and allow bargaining agreements.

He put all his soul into his this cause. In 1968 he went on a fast for 25 days. In 1972, he fastened again for 24 days and again in 1988 for 36 days. Cesar Chavez worked all his life to stand up for his people and he is deeply remembered and honored today by many people.

According to www.lasculturas.com, in April 23, 1993 Cesar Chavez passed away at the age of 66. 50,000 people, who honored Cesar Chavez, went to the site of Cesar Chavez first public fast. His body was taken to La Paz in the UFW’s California headquarters.

On August 8, 1994 President Clinton gave Helen Chavez, Cesar Chavez wife, the Medal of Freedom in honor of Cesar Chavez. In 1994, Cesar’s family and the people of the UFW created the Cesar Chavez E. Foundation, a  foundation that was based on promoting the ideals and visions of Cesar Chavez.

After his death the UFW continued and won contracts representing field workers in California, Florida and Washington State.

To many he was an inspiration “One heroic figure of our time,” stated Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Yet many don’t know about him and his struggle.

Great Hero Now Forgotten

 

Photo taken by Elizabeth Contreras

Farm workers have had a long road of struggling and surviving life on the fields.

Working on farms is a very back-breaking job and many don’t consider the hardships many farm workers go through every day. One man came along his name Cesar Chavez and helped bring change and reform but have his efforts been long gone forgotten?

Many don’t know about Cesar Chavez and for me it hurts to see that not even Latinos know about this great man has helped many farm workers and our community.

Here in Oakland, we see images everywhere, we have murals all over schools parks and what not, there’s even a park named after him.

Do you know who he is? Do you know what he accomplished? Yet, people don’t know how he has helped the Latino society and community. Who was Cesar Chavez and what is the legacy he has left behind?