1 · T H E H I S PA N I C A M E R I C A N E X P E R I E N C E
FOCUS ON HISPANIC AMERICANS
PART ONE: READ AND ASSESS
Read the following Cesar Chavez mini biography, which appears in The Hispanic American Experience—a USA
TODAY Cultural Mosaic book. Then record your answers to the Critical Thinking Questions on a separate sheet
of paper.
Cesar Chavez
(1927–1993) Mexican American labor activist Cesar Chavez was born near Yuma, Arizona. He had to quit
school after eighth grade to help support his family. Chavez earned money picking grapes as a migrant
farmworker. Migrant farmworkers moved from town to town and worked for long hours. They had few rights
and received little pay for their labor.
Chavez was disgusted with the working conditions that migrant farm workers faced. As an adult, he formed
a union (a group that supports workers’ rights) to help the migrant workers. He also organized strikes—work
stoppages meant to force employers to meet a union’s demands. Chavez helped improve conditions for migrant
farmworkers. In 1994, one year after his death, President Bill Clinton honored Chavez with a Presidential Medal
of Freedom—a prize that goes to citizens whose life’s work betters the United States.
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
1. As explained in the mini bio, Chavez came from a very humble background. What effect
do you think Chavez’s background had on those he sought to help?
2. Why do you think Chavez chose to organize strikes? How do you think strikes convince
employers to change unfair labor practices? What negative consequences might a strike
have?
3. Chavez’s leadership skills earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom—one of the
highest honors a civilian can get. Can you name other Hispanic Americans who have
displayed leadership abilities or who have achieved remarkable things? (Hint: Think of
government leaders, businesspeople, artists, athletes, entertainers, and more.)
™
USA TODAY Snapshots®, graphics, and excerpts from USA TODAY articles copyright © 2011 by USA TODAY. USA TODAY, its logo, and
associated graphics are federally registered trademarks. All rights are reserved. All USA TODAY text, graphics, and photographs are
used pursuant to a license and may not be reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used without the express written consent of Gannet
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Copyright © 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Lerner DigitalTM and Lerner eSourceTM are trademarks of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. LB ISBN: 978-0-7613-4085-0 www.lernerbooks.com
2 · T H E H I S PA N I C A M E R I C A N E X P E R I E N C E
PART TWO: APPLY
One of Cesar Chavez’s many strengths was his ability to organize people. He listened to migrant workers’
concerns, introduced them to others with similar problems, persuaded workers to unite, and developed and
implemented action plans.
Read several profiles of Chavez, either online or in a reference book. Think about why he was a successful
organizer. What techniques did he use? How did he inspire people? Next, through research, identify an issue
that resonates with Hispanic Americans (e.g., immigration, education, English-only initiatives). Adopt the role
of Chavez, and decide how to address the issue. What is your stance? What goal do you want to achieve? How
can you organize people to accomplish this goal? Use the graphic organizer below to work out the details of
your plan.
PROBLEM
YOUR (CHAVEZ’S) OPINION ON THE ISSUE
GOAL
ACTION(S) YOU WILL TAKE TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL
WHO YOU WILL ORGANIZE
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HOW YOU WILL ORGANIZE THEM
USA TODAY Snapshots®, graphics, and excerpts from USA TODAY articles copyright © 2011 by USA TODAY. USA TODAY, its logo, and
associated graphics are federally registered trademarks. All rights are reserved. All USA TODAY text, graphics, and photographs are
used pursuant to a license and may not be reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used without the express written consent of Gannet
Co., Inc. For more educational content from USA TODAY, visit http://www.usatodayeducate.com/wordpress.
Copyright © 2011 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. Lerner DigitalTM and Lerner eSourceTM are trademarks of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
All rights reserved. LB ISBN: 978-0-7613-4085-0 www.lernerbooks.com