Cesar Chavez service day honors legacy of civil rights leader
Vanessa Guerrero
Farm workers have suffered injustices for decades. Their pay does not come close to reflecting their work duties. To put the icing on the cake, they do not receive medical benefits.
A usual day extends anywhere from 10- to 15-hour shifts, often in 90 degree heat. No tents are provided for shade during breaks, and water is not provided.
Many workers have suffered from heat exhaustion while on the job; care is rarely given, even in emergency situations.
Cesar Chavez fought this new style of slavery for decades. His influence extended nationwide and he established the United Farm Workers union to help farm workers throughout California.
The United Farm Workers movement focuses on obtaining fair wages, medical coverage, pension benefits and humane living conditions.
Chavez was the central figure in the movement. His ideology was rooted in nonviolent civil disobedience. His legacy is the guiding principle for the UFW, where he is still remembered as a "community servant" who helped fight for a better tomorrow.
Duane Campbell, professor emeritus of bilingual and multicultural education, was part of UFW and helped Chavez and Dolores Huerta build the local movement in Sacramento.
Campbell said he helped boycott Safeway stores in the region for four years and encouraged people not to buy grapes or lettuce in order to affect change.
"The spirit of Chavez lives on in the struggle for union rights and justice in the fields of California today," Campbell said.
The UFW continues to follow Chavez’s ideology for nonviolent protests and demonstrations to obtain change for farm workers today.
Unfortunately, some regions in California still have not changed; farm workers still lack humane working conditions and benefits.
In an effort to educate the Sacramento State community about the farm worker struggle, Cesar Chavez’s legacy and ideology, Associated Students, Inc., organized the Cesar Chavez Community Service Day last Friday.
ASI President Miguel Cervantes said the purpose of the event was not only to encourage students to get involved in their community, but to instill in them the desire and ability to fight for a better tomorrow.
"We want students to learn of Cesar Chavez’s legacy so they can understand the struggles farm workers faced and continue to face today," Cervantes said.
Cervantes attended the event back in 2005 and said he developed the necessary contacts and tools to get involved in his community.
"The event helped students step outside the box; view new perspectives from the social activists themselves," Cervantes said.
Awareness and education was the key focus of the Cesar Chavez Service Day. Social activists were invited to speak about their experiences and the struggles they continue to fight.
Jose G. Paniagua, senior mathematics and statistics major, took part in the service day and went to a women’s shelter to provide his service to the community.
At the shelter, he helped organize and clean a warehouse that stores the food and clothing for the women and children who reside there.
Although he does not see himself being a social activist in the future, Paniagua said he was glad he helped; if an opportunity were to arise again, he would definitely volunteer his time.
The majority of the students are too busy to get involved. Sac State students have a limited time to give back to the community because many have a job on the side.
"We understand students are busy, but we feel that students need to be more involved with their community. This event helped some students get out of the self-mentality and consider other individuals through community service," Cervantes said.
While it’s hard to accept that social injustice exists in the United States, taking the time to look around would leave you wondering whether things were really that great to begin with.
Take the time to learn about the real issues that have plagued humanity for decades.
As students, get involved in the local efforts aimed at fighting the fee increases and budget cuts. Like Chavez, our voices can be heard. If we demand change, we can obtain what we want.
Vanessa Guerrero can be reached at vguerrero@statehornet.com