Si Se Puede essays

Si Se Puede essays 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 Chavezs 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 joined 300,000 migrant workers in California that followed seasonal crops. Cesar was ten at the time and experienced life in dingy overcrowded quarters, which had no bathrooms, electricity or running water. Cesar attended school, but being the child of a migrant worker the teachers were often prejudice against him and the other Spanish-speaking students. In an environment surrounded by such prejudice it is amazing that he graduated from the eighth grade, because graduation for migrant children in those days was unusual. Throughout his school career Chavez worked part time picking in the fields, once he graduated it became a full time position. Chavez preferred working in the vineyards becau...