Nobody wants to admit it but the Farm Workers Union has lost credibility and does not fit the narrative.
They built their stature on their enigmatic leader (Cesar Chavez) while all this time keeping secrets; secrets that were "known" but we're kept hidden because of the "greater good".
Aside From Chavez And Huerta
The Farm workers' union wasn't about Chavez and Huerta. But they wanted it to be.
Most people are not aware that the United Farm Workers (UFW) was formed in 1966 through the merger of two existing organizations: the
Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC), led primarily by Filipino Americans, and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA), led primarily by Mexican Americans.
The NFWA was led by Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and Gilbert Padilla.
Multi Ethnic
The AWOC was led by Filipino-Americans, Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and Peter Gines Velasco.
The UFW systematically became a Mexican-American organization, pushing out it's Filipino-American members and leaders (founders no less).
UFW Day
Today, is an opportune time to create a UFW Day instead of glorifying just one man or one woman. The Cesar Chavez Day or whatever holiday should take its place should honor the sacrifices of the original UFW's Mexican-American and Filipino-American Leaders and their original members.
Aside from the Chavez brothers, Huerta and Padilla, these three Filipino American leaders should also be remembered and recognized.
Larry Itliong: seasoned labor organizer who initiated the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. He served as the Assistant Director of the newly formed UFWOC (later renamed to UFW).
Philip Vera Cruz: long-time farmworker and activist who became the second vice president of the UFW, serving for 12 years.
Peter Gines Velasco: key leader in the Delano Grape Strike and a founding member of the UFW who served on its executive board.
It's time to give recognition to all those who started the UFW. Farm workers and farm workers rights are not about one person or one ethnicity.
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