Campus Times
March 30, 2005
Dolores Huerta, co-founder and the first Vice President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America lectured on the impact of Cesar Chavez and what the farm workers of American have to do to build their organizations last week at Claremont McKenna College.
In honor of the Cesar Chavez holiday this month, Huerta spoke specifically about what Chavez did for the UFW. And she also spoke of her own trials in making farming a better workplace and how she met and joined Chavez many years ago.
“He never took the time he needed to rest,” Huerta said. “He ran the union from his bed.”
Huerta talked about how farmers across the country have struggled to the gain union protections for workers that many laborers in this country take for granted.
“There weren’t even any laws to have toilets in the fields that they work in until 1985,” Huerta said. “We put a man on the moon before our farmers even got employment insurance.”
Brittany Martinez, who atteneded the lecture, said she was affected by the work of Chavez although she never knew him personally.
“Just listening to the lecture tonight and learning all of the things that I have learned about him, it really makes me feel good about what he has done,” Martinez said. “It gives me chills on the inside to think about it.”
Huerta repeated throughout the lecture her idea that farmers have come a long way, thanks in large part to Chavez. But she made it very clear that the FWA and all of it’s members still have a long way to go.
“The farm workers have to commit to form an organization,” Huerta said.
Huerta also spoke highly of Chavez’s character and his views.
“He taught people political work and had a strong message against materialism,” Huerta said. “We live in such a materialistic society… our life is here to serve others.”
“From all that I know, he was a fascinating man,” Martinez said.
Huerta’s lecture, "The UFW: Past, Present, and Future,” was held in to commemorate Cesar Chavez Day, which takes place on or around March 31 of every year.
Steven Falls can be reached at sfalls21@msn.com.