By Eduardo Barraza
Cesar E. Chavez: More Than a Leader, a Servant
When we analyze the work and service of Cesar E. Chavez, it never comes short to the measure of a
great leader. His work was boldness, sacrifice and devotion to the cause of the farmworker,
availability to the needs of his people. Chavez was a non-violent revolutionary whose words and
perseverance shook the status quo of abuse and mistreatment more powerful than rifles. His
simplicity was his flag, his humility his trench. The people followed him not because he defended
them; they accepted him as their leader because he himself was the people; their cause was his, his
suffering was theirs. With his struggle, Chavez gave truce to the needy, served his country well, and
fought for his people with honor.
Yesterday, Cesar, the farmer child, arose with the sun of hope. He felt in his own flesh the sorrow of
his people. Unexpectedly, his steps took him to walk the road of the struggle. And against all odds,
without any perspective, without a sword of state in his hands, whether it was in a field, while
handpicking alongside, or perhaps in the classroom, Cesar the little farmer elucidated in his mind,
conceived in his soul, tattooed on his heart the truth that in spite of difficulty, and nevertheless the
frustration, succeeding was possible, and through struggling winning was achievable. He knew and
understood then that sí se puede.
Today, a farmer boy arises and sees the horizon, walks between the furrows, waters the ground with
the sweat of his forehead. He looks and realizes that the struggle is not over, he knows that he has
in his hands the power of the seed. Nobody knows his name, his destiny is unknown, but winds of
liberty impulse him while he works in silence. Perhaps he doesn’t even know what his heart is
germinating, but knows that a millenary echo of struggle beats in his spirit, that a voice cries to him in
his entrails, and calls him to do something for the people telling him “sí se puede, sí se puede…”
great leader. His work was boldness, sacrifice and devotion to the cause of the farmworker,
availability to the needs of his people. Chavez was a non-violent revolutionary whose words and
perseverance shook the status quo of abuse and mistreatment more powerful than rifles. His
simplicity was his flag, his humility his trench. The people followed him not because he defended
them; they accepted him as their leader because he himself was the people; their cause was his, his
suffering was theirs. With his struggle, Chavez gave truce to the needy, served his country well, and
fought for his people with honor.
Yesterday, Cesar, the farmer child, arose with the sun of hope. He felt in his own flesh the sorrow of
his people. Unexpectedly, his steps took him to walk the road of the struggle. And against all odds,
without any perspective, without a sword of state in his hands, whether it was in a field, while
handpicking alongside, or perhaps in the classroom, Cesar the little farmer elucidated in his mind,
conceived in his soul, tattooed on his heart the truth that in spite of difficulty, and nevertheless the
frustration, succeeding was possible, and through struggling winning was achievable. He knew and
understood then that sí se puede.
Today, a farmer boy arises and sees the horizon, walks between the furrows, waters the ground with
the sweat of his forehead. He looks and realizes that the struggle is not over, he knows that he has
in his hands the power of the seed. Nobody knows his name, his destiny is unknown, but winds of
liberty impulse him while he works in silence. Perhaps he doesn’t even know what his heart is
germinating, but knows that a millenary echo of struggle beats in his spirit, that a voice cries to him in
his entrails, and calls him to do something for the people telling him “sí se puede, sí se puede…”
'SI SE PUEDE' Chavez was a
non-violent revolutionary whose words
and perseverance shook the status quo
of abuse and mistreatment
Artwork by Martin Moreno
non-violent revolutionary whose words
and perseverance shook the status quo
of abuse and mistreatment
Artwork by Martin Moreno
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
