Chicano Farm Worker Movement
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In this project, we will be discussing about the Chicano Farm Worker Movement and how it brought change to not only farm workers but to society as a whole. We will be focused on the working conditions of farm workers prior and after the movement, notable or influential leaders, and the communities that were fueling the movement. By examining their struggles, successes, and legacy, we wanted to provide a better understanding of the process needed to advocate and bring forth social change for a marginalized group of people. Last, we wanted to remove stereotypes and other misconceptions about the movement in creating a more equitable society. Por: Justin Bui, Kristi Kang, Jenniffer Young
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2023-06-06T18:45:33-07:00
The Chicano Farm Worker Movement consisted of organized protests, boycotts, and community education programs that advocated for the rights and improved working-living conditions of Mexican Americans and other marginalized groups of farmworkers.
Women in the Movement
The Chicano Farm Worker's Movement aimed to reduce unequal treatment, lack of support, and poor availability of resources for Chicano farm workers. Women during that same time period, also, fought for rights in the workplace, addressed cases of sexual assault or violence, and raised awareness on survivor accounts that were sidelined. Women were discriminated against during the 1920's and 50's due to conservative views that women should take care of their families and were not equal of social status to men. Based on that sentiment, women were not given the respect that they deserved. Chicana activists such as Maria Moreno, Monica Ramirez, and Jessie de la Cruz began creating unions, organizing protests, and gaining positions in the government to change policies in order to reduce systemic discrimination. These Chicana feminists were usually children of farm workers or were involved in farm work themselves. Therefore, they experienced harsh working conditions and discrimination first-handed. They have been oppressed and recognized that the government was not improving the needs of migrant workers.
Many women experienced sexual assault in the workplace. However, there were no policies or laws in place to punish people who were committing these acts, which allowed offenders to assault more people. Men were not held accountable for their actions and women were expected to keep quiet and continue maintaining their families. Chicana feminists, starting in the 1920s, established a voice for all the women who were being abused and discriminated against. The protests and strikes helped inspire other people to join farm worker unions and provoke the government to provide protection and resources to Chicano workers.
Key Figures That Shaped the Future
Many figures had been noted throughout history who had been representative of the Chicano Farm Workers struggle to fight for their rights. People such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta being the front runners of this fight. Cesar and Dolores worked together to organize the farmworkers into a single union. They prioritized organizing boycotts to representing the farmworker's job conditions. Dolores coordinated the nationwide lettuce, grape, and Gallo wine boycotts in 1970 and allowed for the passage in 1975 for the Agricultural Labor Relations Act. They were inspired by their own personal struggles against the injustice and they felt it was up to them to represent those who were unable to do so. They took the mantle and allowed for farmers to have their rights and laws passed to protect themselves from being exploited.
The Gallo wine boycotts were a part of a broader campaign that included lettuce and table grapes. The growers failed to renew their contracts with the union and they ended up signing up with the rival teamsters instead. The boycott ended in 1978 after the UFW won a string of union elections held under California's new Agricultural Labor Relations Act and the teamsters agreed to allow the UFW to represent the field workers.
Urban Farmer Participation in the Movement
In the early 2000s, a small farm worker movement emerged in Los Angeles with the goal of preserving the operational status of the South Central Farm. This movement aimed to secure equal access to fresh produce and relieve some of the financial hardships experienced within the community of marginalized Chicano farmworkers. The movement spanned several years, from 2003 to 2006, and rallied impoverished working-class farmers and sympathetic community members to advocate for food security and social justice.
The movement drew inspiration from the larger Chicano movements in the past and utilized tactics such as community mobilization, raising awareness, and engaging in peaceful public protests. The peaceful nature of their demonstrations helped garner sympathy and support from a broad range of people who could relate to their struggles. Although the movement did not succeed in changing the South Central Farm’s demolition, it brought the community closer together and shed light on significant divisions related to economic disparity, limited food access, and the inherent racial biases held by landowners against marginalized and underrepresented farmers.
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