Help Students Remember César Chávez

Today is the kickoff of Farmworker Awareness Week [2]. It is a time to honor the backbreaking work that goes into harvesting our food.

This week is also set aside to remember César Chávez [3], the famous labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the United Farm Workers (UFW) with Dolores Huerta. This Thursday—March 31—is César Chávez Day, which marks Chávez's birthday and the day the UFW was founded.

Educators can observe this week in their classes by using Teaching Tolerance lessons from our film Viva La Causa [4] and the SPLC report Injustice on Our Plates [5]. These lessons help educate students about social conditions in the United States—conditions Chávez worked tirelessly to improve. As he put it, "The end of all education should surely be service to others."

Price is the managing editor at Teaching Tolerance.