Unlike some other books about Cesar Chavez written for middle and high school students, this short biography about Cesar Chavez also includes
•A vocabulary builder
•Ten thought-provoking review questions
This story of Cesar Chavez is an ideal resource for
•Book reports
•Homeschooling
More than just a history of Cesar Chavez’s childhood, teachers and parents will also find the subject matter and easy-to-read and understand style appropriate for
•Literacy programs
•Reading comprehension
Cesar Chavez was a second generation immigrant from Mexico.
In the 1880’s his grandfather, Papa Chayo, arrived in the territory of Arizona. After years as a farm laborer, Papa Chayo saved enough money to have his family join him.
He soon became an American citizen. As part of the government homesteading program, Papa Chayo was given 160 acres on a homestead farm just outside of town.
Cesar Chavez was born in 1927. Cesar was the oldest of five children. His father, Librado, opened a small grocery store. But before Cesar had even learned to walk, the Great Depression of the 1930s wiped out the family business.
They went to live Papa Chayo.
School was difficult for Cesar Chavez as a kid. Sometimes he had trouble with his English. The teachers were often unfair with the Mexican-American students. They were even punished for English mistakes. He began to dislike school.
The childhood of Cesar Chavez was far from easy.
At age 10, Cesar's family lost the homestead of Papa Chayo, when a long drought forced a public sale of their farm. The Chavez family moved to California to join the many migrant workers who roamed from one farm to the next. Sometimes they worked for a week. Other times they would stay for a month.
Treated like prison gangs, the farm workers were often cheated out of their pay and treated like animals. Often without running water or electricity, living in little shacks put together from sheet metal and scrap wood, the Chavez family tried to make the best of their situation.
At 15, Cesar quit school and took on the pachuco (showy) life. He wanted to blend into the popular fashion like other young Hispanics. He cut his hair in a certain style and wore a broad hat, long coat and tapered pants.
He wanted the girls to think he was cool.
When World War II broke out, Cesar joined the Navy. After serving his country and receiving his honorable discharge, Cesar returned to the migrant fields, unsure of what to do with his life. He knew that he wanted a better life for himself, his new bride and for his fellow migrant workers.
But what could he do?
Joining the Community Service Organization as a volunteer, Cesar decided to go back and get his education. Studying every night after working in the fields, Cesar practiced his reading and writing. He read everything he could about economics, history and politics.
Cesar and a small group of friends set out to organize a farm workers union. The National Farm Workers Union faced its first battle in 1965.
Through the leadership of Cesar Chavez, the entire world focused their attention on the poverty and lack of human rights of the migrant workers in California.
One of the important facts about Cesar Chavez is that he always stressed non-violence. After years of peacefully fighting for their rights, the migrant workers were given a minimum wage, fair labor contracts and better working and living conditions.
Purchase this bio of Cesar Chavez to learn more about how he became an international symbol of the farm workers movement.
•A vocabulary builder
•Ten thought-provoking review questions
This story of Cesar Chavez is an ideal resource for
•Book reports
•Homeschooling
More than just a history of Cesar Chavez’s childhood, teachers and parents will also find the subject matter and easy-to-read and understand style appropriate for
•Literacy programs
•Reading comprehension
Cesar Chavez was a second generation immigrant from Mexico.
In the 1880’s his grandfather, Papa Chayo, arrived in the territory of Arizona. After years as a farm laborer, Papa Chayo saved enough money to have his family join him.
He soon became an American citizen. As part of the government homesteading program, Papa Chayo was given 160 acres on a homestead farm just outside of town.
Cesar Chavez was born in 1927. Cesar was the oldest of five children. His father, Librado, opened a small grocery store. But before Cesar had even learned to walk, the Great Depression of the 1930s wiped out the family business.
They went to live Papa Chayo.
School was difficult for Cesar Chavez as a kid. Sometimes he had trouble with his English. The teachers were often unfair with the Mexican-American students. They were even punished for English mistakes. He began to dislike school.
The childhood of Cesar Chavez was far from easy.
At age 10, Cesar's family lost the homestead of Papa Chayo, when a long drought forced a public sale of their farm. The Chavez family moved to California to join the many migrant workers who roamed from one farm to the next. Sometimes they worked for a week. Other times they would stay for a month.
Treated like prison gangs, the farm workers were often cheated out of their pay and treated like animals. Often without running water or electricity, living in little shacks put together from sheet metal and scrap wood, the Chavez family tried to make the best of their situation.
At 15, Cesar quit school and took on the pachuco (showy) life. He wanted to blend into the popular fashion like other young Hispanics. He cut his hair in a certain style and wore a broad hat, long coat and tapered pants.
He wanted the girls to think he was cool.
When World War II broke out, Cesar joined the Navy. After serving his country and receiving his honorable discharge, Cesar returned to the migrant fields, unsure of what to do with his life. He knew that he wanted a better life for himself, his new bride and for his fellow migrant workers.
But what could he do?
Joining the Community Service Organization as a volunteer, Cesar decided to go back and get his education. Studying every night after working in the fields, Cesar practiced his reading and writing. He read everything he could about economics, history and politics.
Cesar and a small group of friends set out to organize a farm workers union. The National Farm Workers Union faced its first battle in 1965.
Through the leadership of Cesar Chavez, the entire world focused their attention on the poverty and lack of human rights of the migrant workers in California.
One of the important facts about Cesar Chavez is that he always stressed non-violence. After years of peacefully fighting for their rights, the migrant workers were given a minimum wage, fair labor contracts and better working and living conditions.
Purchase this bio of Cesar Chavez to learn more about how he became an international symbol of the farm workers movement.
