Module 16, Lesson 4: Hispanic and native americans seek equality By: Arielle Keselman Hispanic Americans Fight for Change

THe farm worker movement Cesar Chavez believed that farm workers needed to unionize in order to change the horrible working benefits of California’s fruit and vegetable farms. In 1962 Chávez and Dolores Huerta established the National Farm Workers Association. Later, they joined with a Filipino agricultural union and formed the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee. In 1965, California grape growers refused to recognize the union, and Chavez, taking a Dr. MLK Jr. approach, used nonviolence in order for them to recognize his union. Supermarkets and shoppers did not buy California grapes, and Chavez went on a three day fast. The boycott proved successful, and the grape growers gave in. In 1970 the union workers were finally guaranteed higher wages and benefits that they were otherwise denied.

Cultural Pride The farmworkers inspired other “brown power” movements across America. In 1968 Congress enacted the Bilingual Education Act, which funded schools to provide cultural heritage and bilingual programs in American schools where their were non- english students. Mexican Americans began to proudly call themselves Chicanos. Rodolfo Gonzalez founded the Crusade for Justice, which provided legal aid, spanish newspapers, raised cultural awareness, ran schools for Spanish-speaking children, and other services. The Brown Berets, under the leadership of David Sanchez, began protesting police brutality in LA. They also focused on better schooling for Hispanic Americans.

Political power Hispanic Americans also began organizing politically in the 1960s. During this time, 8 Mexican Americans served in the house, and one was elected as Senator. Jose Angel Gutierrez created La Raza Unida. They campaigned for bilingual education, education for children of migrant workers, better public services, and an end to discrimination. Later on, the court ruled that any apportionment plan must provide an equal number of legislative seats for equally populated areas because votes were being used against people based on where they lived.

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