In this particular program, students learned about Chavez’ personal history, from his birth in 1927 and upbringing during the Great Depression to his childhood among a family of migrant laborers to his service with the U.S. Navy, which expanded his horizons through world travel, and eventually his championing of the rights of farm workers.
It was in that role that Chavez learned to organize and focus on nonviolent forms of civil disobedience, strikes and boycotts. Indeed, it was the Delano Grape Strike that lasted from 1965 to 1970 and included a 340-mile march to Sacramento and a 25-day hunger strike that eventually led to increased pay and gave workers the right to unionize.