Cesar Chavez Hero Essay

In today’s world, who would you consider a hero: your neighbor, your friend, a policeman or firefighter? Maybe you consider your brother a hero or your mom or dad, but before deciding who deserves the title of hero, consider what the word hero means: it means a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. Cesar E. Chavez is a true hero for these reasons. Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona, US on March 31, 1927, and died on April 23, 1993. He had four siblings, two brothers, and two sisters. When young his family lost the house and they had to move to California to become migrant( when someone moves to another place in the same country) workers, in his teenage years he would help in the fields by

helping workers get to the hospital when needed. He quit school in seventh grade to help in the fields so his mom did have to, so he became a full-time migrant worker. Years after he founded the National Farm Workers Association with Dolores Huerta, and also time after founded the United Farm Workers Union. He got married on October 22, 1948, at the age of 21 with Helen Fabela Chavez and had 8 children. Chavez is deserving of the title hero, not only because he is determined, but also because he is impactful and selfless, and due to his effort and dedication to accomplish his goal of getting better rights for farm workers he is considered a hero in parts of Mexico and U.S.
Chavez, a determined person, and activist who fought, supported and defended farm workers rights for most of his life, an example of his determination is when Chavez organization face one of its biggest challenges.

This article describes how Chavez determination was meaningful to his movement, “In July 1970 Chavez's union faced one of its most serious challenges when the Teamsters' union signed contracts that applied to farm workers with some 200 growers in California. Chavez met the challenge head-on, within 3 weeks the largest agricultural strike ever to hit California had spread over 180 miles along the coastal valleys (“Cesar Chavez”).” This statement shows how Cesar Chavez is determined because of how in only 3 weeks he managed to spread the largest agricultural strike, been about 180 miles long. This illustrates how one heroic trait of Cesar Chavez is been determined by putting his heart and mind into his cause and be able to succeed no matter what's the challenge. Another example of Chavez determination can be found in the same article, “Chavez's efforts were rewarded. From 1964 to 1980, wages of California migrant workers had increased 70 percent, health care benefits became a reality and a formal grievance procedure was established. Chavez continued to fight for the rights of workers up to the day of his death on April 22, 1993(“Cesar Chavez”).” This evidence illustrates one of the highlights that makes Chavez deserving of the title hero: Chavez determination of how

he fought for workers rights until his last day. This show that not even age was going to stop him from accomplishing his work. Chavez can be called a hero since he did give up like any fictional hero gould. Base on Chavez actions, It clearly demonstrates his determination.
In addition to Chavez determination, he is also considered a hero because of his impactfulness.

In this article, you can see how in one of his strikes he was supported by people that were impacted by his action for the farmer community, “As a charismatic leader, Chavez drew attention to his cause by fasting for twenty-five days. At the end of this fast, 4,000 people gathered for a mass to honor his efforts (Skallerup).” This fact shows how people that are impacted by Chavez honor him and appreciate his efforts for fasting(self-starving) to show his point and make an impact for his cause. If Chavez efforts weren't important 4,000 people would have gathered to appreciate him and his work. Another example of Chavez impactfulness can be seen by his accomplishments which really show how impactful he was in many communities, “In 1993, at the age of sixty-six, Cesar Estrada Chavez passed away. Over 50,000 people attended his funeral. The legacy this man has left behind is monumental. Eight states honor Cesar's birthday as a holiday. There are many schools, streets, parks, and libraries named after Cesar Chavez in over fifteen different states. Chavez has received Mexico's highest civilian award, Aguila Azteca, The Aztec Eagle. He has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States. (Skallerup).” This evidence shows the monumental impact that Chavez had in many communities. But there are two very important awards that show this impact, the main one been El

Aguila Azteca(The Aztec Eagle) that is the highest award in Mexico one can get as a civilian and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the United States. This show how Chavez is heroic since that's how people can show their appreciation to a hero such as Chavez. As seen by Chavez decision, he clearly demonstrated to be impactful.
The final and most important reason of why is Cesar Chavez deserving of the title hero is because he is selfless, one of Chavez selfless acts is illustrated in this article, “His first fast in 1968 lasted 25 days, and it was successful in reducing violence during the first grape boycott, a struggle that was ultimately won in 1970. All of his fasts were life-threatening. His most recent and longest fast of 36 days, undertaken in the summer of 1988, was effective in focusing national attention on the third boycott (ISalandini).” Chavez has proven to be selfless in many occasion by fasting at a life-threatening level to make a point for his cause, a person can only go without water for about three days and without food for about twenty-one days, two of Chavez longest fast was of 25 days and 36 days, being at a really high risk of passing away in any moment and in worths situations he could half die. By being at high risk all the time he has proven to be selfless at a heroic level. Chavez knew he had to selfless if he wants it to encourage people to rise up two and that can be seen the following article by ISalandini, Victor ”I sincerely believe that this longest fast proved beyond a doubt his dedication to nonviolence and his spirit of servanthood. Here's what he said in 1968 when he ended his first fast."I am convinced that the truest act of courage ... is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice (ISalandini).” Chavez is willing to give anything for his cause, in his own words he said: “ that the truest act of courage... is to sacrifice ourselves for others”(Cesar Chavez). This demonstrates how he is willing to be as selfless as necessary to achieve his goal. As seen by Chavez decision and struggles is clear that he demonstrated to be selfless.
When Chavez acted and struggle for his cause to get better rights for farm workers, he demonstrated the heroic qualities of being determined, impactful and selfless. Considering Chavez life decisions one can see that he has proven in multiple occasion that he is deserving of the title hero do to his heroic actions of being selfless, determine and impactful in and to many communities. Chavez was an admirable, courageous and self-sacrificing individual not only because he's sacrificed a lot in his life for his cause, for the farm workers, for justice, for fairness and equal opportunities to all workers, this hero’s actions, and choices cause one to thinks that everyone should be equal and that everyone deserves to have the same rights as any other.