Rights activist Cesar Chavez nominated by Cori Crider

Great Lives

BBC

History, Documentary, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2021

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1960s California, Mexican-American Civil Rights Leader, Cesar Chavez led the United Farmworkers union in a series of strikes, boycotts and semi-religious processions, which inspired farmworkers, students and celebrities to join him in what he called 'La Causa' 'The Cause' was his struggle to force the landowners and growers - and the system in which they operated - to recognise farmworkers as human beings who deserved dignity, respect and basic rights. Senator Robert F Kennedy was a fan, describing him as a "heroic figure". Joan Baez sang at his rallies. Years later, President Obama stole his slogan and opened a national monument to his memory. And yet he is little known internationally or even outside latino communities in the US. The lawyer and founder of Foxglove, Cori Crider, tells Mathew Parris why she is inspired by his legacy and why the lessons from his life are needed now more than ever. Matthew and Cori are joined by Miriam Pawel, the author of The Crusades of Cesar Chavez. Clips of Eliseo Medina were taken from an interview conducted by the producer. Producer: Ellie Richold

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before you listen to this BBC podcast I'd like to introduce myself. My name's
0:04.0	Stevie Middleton and I'm a BBC Commissioner for a load of sport
0:07.5	podcasts. I'm lucky to do that at the BBC because I get to work with leading
0:11.1	journalists, experienced pundits and the biggest
0:13.3	sports stars. Together we bring you untold stories and fascinating insights
0:17.4	straight from the player's mouth. But the best thing about doing this at the BBC is
0:22.0	our unique access to the sporting world.
0:25.0	What that means is that we can bring you podcasts that create a real connection to
0:28.9	dedicated sports fans across the UK.
0:31.5	So if you like this podcast, head over to BBC Sounds where you'll find
0:34.6	plenty more. Helen was a force as well. Our world is a better place because
0:40.5	Caesar Chavez decided to change it.
0:43.0	Let us honor his memory,
0:46.0	but most importantly, let's live up to his example.
0:50.0	Thank you. God bless you If you can't, if you can, see pewe, see pewe, see pewe, see pewe, see
0:57.1	see pewe, see pewe.
1:00.4	Barak Obama in 2012, opening a national monument paying homage to the man who inspired
1:07.0	him.
1:08.6	Obama made no secret of the fact that his 2008 presidential campaign slogan,
1:14.2	Yes, we can, was borrowed and translated from the United Farm Workers motto,
1:19.6	Cisepuede. The leader of that movement, the Mexican-American civil rights activist
1:25.6	Caesar Chavez is the subject of today's great lives. Nominating
	...

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