César Chávez (1927 — 1993)
"It's ironic that those who till the soil, cultivate and harvest the fruits, vegetables and other foods that fill your tables with abundance have nothing left for themselves."
One of the most beloved and electrifying figures in labor history, César Chávez rose from fruit and vegetable picker to leader of the United Farm Workers of America. Intensely spiritual, he merged the teachings of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. into a philosophy of non-violence, confounding his opponents and assuring eventual success in his efforts to bring recognition, dignity and a better life to countless migrant farm workers following years of impoverishment and discrimination.
