Daniela Prado

Soc. Movement

M/W 5:30-6:45

Chicano Latino Movement

Framing

The injustices portrayed in this film regarding the Chicano Latino Movement were that many of the fieldworkers were getting paid low wages. They were getting paid $2. The fieldworkers didn't have education many were illegal immigrants from Mexico. These workers life expectancy age was 49 years old. The farm workers were not treated with respect and were viewed as objects rather than actual workers. Also, they were exposed to dangerous pesticides and were not warned about what they were being exposed to, neither were they given masks. The workers also didn't have any restroom facilities provided to them at their job. Due to these injustices even the immigrants children had to share their parents hardships. The growers liked the fact that illegal immigrants worked in the fields because they were cheap temporary labor. They were inexpensive and were easy to control. Cesar Chavez became involved into this cause and wanted to change the working conditions. He wanted farm workers to have a better pay and have better working conditions.

Political Opportunity

Once the Bracero Movement started experiencing a decrease in the temporary illegal immigrants that weren't able to migrate to the U.S. This led to the owners of the farms to do almost anything with the workers. For example, they would pay them a really low amount of money. An amount that wasn't even sustainable to live off. Also, the workers were treated horrible they weren't give breaks when necessary, no bathroom facilities, and many experienced health problem conditions. Chavez became an activist for the farm worker association which he fought for better working conditions for the fieldworkers. As the movement emerged the political opportunity continued. As the movement emerged strikes began occurring and it began gaining support. During the strikes two protesters were killed. Although during their strikes police enforcement would hit the strikers and arrest them. Cesar Chavez got into a hunger strike for 25 days he would only drink water. This tactic that Chavez used gained a lot of publicity to his cause. It let the public know the importance of getting a union for farm workers.Chavez's hunger strike also had an impact in the farm workers it gave them courage to be able to fight for their rights and let the people they had enough.

Resource Mobilization

Chavez continued to fight for the farmworker rights until they came to an agreement of signing a contract which implemented what he was fighting for. Also, this film used two other Chicano Latino activists one named Joaquin which he gave a lot for spiritual meaning for people who were Chicanos. Some symbols that were seen in the film were the UFW Flags and the boycott signs.