by V. Alexandra de F. Szoenyi
February 8, 2021
Besides the coverage we get during Latinx Heritage Month, these moments in our history are more often than not
not covered in U.S. History classes in schools even though Latin-Americans have been a part of the United States for about 500 years. Some major events includes the migrant farm workers, uniting Latinx voters, and the formation of The League of United Latin American Citizens.
We know of the work of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta but do you know who Willie Vasquez is? Do you know what happened with Mendez v. Westminster? Read on to learn more about these key figures and moments in Latinx history.
By Sandra G. Leon
César Chávez talks to striking Salinas Valley farm workers at a rally in 1979. Paul Sakuma, Associated Press, March 7, 1979
Friday, March 31st, is César Chávez Day in California, the only state in the country that has made an official state holiday to honor the late civil rights leader.
Chávez died in 1993, but his legacy of organizing farmer workers and advocating for better pay and working conditions for them has made him a hero to Latinos, and a civil rights icon that is generally recognized along with other historically important leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr.
How Cesar Chavez Joined Larry Itliong to Demand Farm Workers Rights
Itliong may not be as well-known a name as Chavez, but his role among Filipino-American workers was as critical in the 1965-70 Delano grape strikeâif not more.
Author:
Arthur Schatz/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Itliong may not be as well-known a name as Chavez, but his role among Filipino-American workers was as critical in the 1965-70 Delano grape strikeâif not more.
In the late 1960s, grapes grabbed national attention and not in a good way.
Newly organized farm workers, fronted by Mexican-American civil-rights activist Cesar Chavez, asked Americans to boycott the popular California fruit because of the paltry pay and poor work conditions agricultural laborers were forced to endure. Using nonviolent tactics like marches and hunger strikes, grape pickers made their plight a part of the national civil-rights conversation.