Cesar Chavez: Autobiography of La Causa

by Jacques E. Levy, Fred Ross Jr. (Foreword)

“[An] exceptionally interesting and intimate oral history . . . Against a background of motels and all-night cafés and strikes, the high relief in which the characters stand out is truly fascinating. Jacques Levy’s biography of Chavez has unforgettable descriptive passages and fine photographs.” —The Nation Mexican-American civil rights and labor activist Cesar Chavez (1927–1993), comes to life in this vivid portrait of the charismatic and influential fighter who boycotted supermarkets and took on corporations, the government, and the powerful Teamsters Union. Jacques E. Levy gained unprecedented access to Chavez and the United Farm Workers Union in writing this account of one of the most successful labor movements in history which can also serve as a guidebook for social and political change. “[The] definitive work. The book’s major contribution lies in its portrait of the man himself—deeply religious in an almost mystical fashion; a dedicated battler, but not a dedicated hater; a leader who not only will not ask, but will not allow his followers to make the sacrifices he has made.” —Publishers Weekly “One of the heroic figures of our time.” —Senator Robert F. Kennedy Jacques E. Levy (1927–2004), a prize-winning journalist, spent six years with Cesar Chavez researching and writing this book. Fred Ross Jr. is a spokesperson for the Service Employees’ International Union and the son of Fred Ross, Chavez’s mentor. Jacqueline Levy is the daughter of Jacques E. Levy and a high school science teacher in Sonoma County, California.

Genres: Politics, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Labor, Social Justice

600 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Richard Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indeed, the autobiography of La Causa. You get numerous insights into the character of Cesar Chavez, but the book is really, step by step, biography of the organization of the United Farm Workers.

As a former community organizer, I found the book compelling. It is filled with object lessons for community organizers everywhere.

I was particularly interested in the relationship between Chavez, Fred Ross and Saul Alinsky. Alinsky is often credited for having trained Chavez. Clearly, that isn't true. Ross was his true mentor.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating & comprehensive autobiography on Cesar Chavez and gave great insight into what he believed, how he led and why he was such an inspirational & successful leader. I wish more people knew his story. After having just read a biography on Martin Luther King, Jr. it was interesting to be able to think about the work that both of them did and what different backgrounds they came from and experiences that they had but how at the end - they were both fighting for the same thing.

This was a long book, it took me a few months to read it. But well worth the time. The writer who put this autobiography together got unparalleled access to Cesar Chavez and his family, friends & colleagues so you really get to hear about what happened from the perspective of the people who were intimately involved in the United Farm Workers' union/movement.

[Huck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guy is my favorite American. Right next to MLK Jr. They were pure Americans that really wanted this country to become a better place. They are right up there with the founding fathers of America.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was surprised at how quickly I soared through this hefty autobiography/biography, which is better described as a compilation of interviews with Cesar Chavez and his associates in the farmworker movement that have been artfully chronologically ordered. The book gave me remarkable insight into the lives of not only Cesar Chavez but also the people surrounding him and his extraordinary vision and accomplishments. The books only downfall was that it got a bit tedious during very technical explanations of negotiations between the growers and the movement, though, that, too, was educational.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cesar Chavez is celebrated in California every March and is still celebrated amongst Latinos in America today. Despite growing up in California my whole life, I know almost nothing about him, which is why I picked up this book during my visit to the Cesar Chavez National Monument last summer. I am glad I did as this great book brings me a step closer to understanding Cesar Chavez’s impact and place in American civil rights history.

Tracing Cesar Chavez’s life from his birth in Arizona to the passage of a farm workers’ Bill of Rights in the California Legislature in 1975, Mr. Levy gives a firsthand account of the struggle for La Causa in the agricultural fields of California and beyond. The title of this book is a little misleading as this is not a straight autobiography, but rather an oral history told from the perspective of the participants who were most involved. Yes, Cesar Chavez’s voice is the most dominant voice in this book and it does follow his life, but throughout the book Mr. Levy includes the perspective of such key figures as Dolores Huerta, Frank Ross, and many others, including a couple of people who were opposed to Chavez. And once this book reaches the mid- to late- 1960s, the split between Chavez and others is about 50-50, perhaps even more for other voices in the 1970s. Through the eyes of Chavez and the other leaders of the movement, one gets a firsthand education in how difficult organized resistance to social injustice can be.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I will say that the book lacks a certain amount of context. Oftentimes, Chavez and the other leaders will refer to how they kept building the movement and what not, but all of this happening at the same time that the Civil Rights movement is going on. So how does La Causa fit in with the larger struggle for civil rights at this time? Does it even fit in or should it be considered completely separate? Mr. Levy and the other authors don’t seem to connect La Causa to a larger struggle until the very end, so it is hard to tell. Of course, this complaint may be more due to my own ignorance of the history and, perhaps, I will better understand things as I continue to read more about Cesar Chavez and La Causa, but I feel that this could be a common complaint for any autobiography or oral history.

Though U.S. labor history is a niche part of the curriculum, I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in La Causa, Cesar Chavez, or Civil Rights history as a whole.

[Tim Sweeney]

I am about 150 pages into this book. I very much enjoy every page. The history of social justice pioneers or revolutionaries cannot help but be compelling. Rich in content in every way. A few chapters in the morning allows for reflection and discussion on something intruging, important, etc. which can be taken from any part of the book.

[Kelly Is Brighid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having won a prize in journalism does not make him a competent author of a book. This journalist was lazy. It’s a sequence of comments attributed to Senor Chavez interspersed with comments of others in the life of Cesari.

[Eric Eells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on La Causa!

[Jimmy Videle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary human being, as an activist he gave all he could to the lives of impoverished Mexican farm workers. Viva la causa!!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary account of a man that gave so much of himself for the good of others. He led by example, promoted non-violence, marched when unable to walk, and fasted at repeated risk to his health, all in an effort to foster greater unity and attention to La Causa. He gave up economic security so that he could endow it upon others. Few could emulate such lofty ideals, passion, commitment and dedication. A great strategist, source of inspiration and representative of disadvantaged populations in their fight for political and economic equality. A true role model rather than only a leader. Interesting last reflections on the exploitative nature of a capitalist economy on the weakest and the potential of cooperatives to deliver true economic equality.

"Trust is on our side, even more than justice, because truth can't be changed. It has a way of manifesting itself. It has to come out, so sooner or later we'll win."

"I think that's where we make our mistake...making ourselves believe the growers are more powerful than they really are. It's true, they're powerful all right, but if the Movement fails, it won't be because the growers are powerful enough to stop it, but because the workers refuse to use their power to make it go."

"There's more time than life. We've got all the time in the world."

"If we had stayed there, possibly I would have been a grower. God writes in exceedingly crooked lines."

[Dora Barba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of the leadership of Cesar Chavez and his passion and perseverance to improve the life's of farm workers in the US and countries around the world. Also the importance of the "migrant ministry'" was evident throughout the struggle. I purchased this book at the "National Chavez Center" in Keene, CA or as Cesar called it "La Paz" ( Chavez is buried here).

[Colette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fighting for social justice, it seems to me, is one of the profoundest ways in which man can say yes to man’s dignity, and that
really means sacrifice There is no way on this earth in which you can say yes to man’s dignity and know that you’re going to be spared some sacrifice."

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si Se Puede!

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book - written from Chavez's point of view. Tells the story of his life and La Causa - def recommend to anyone interested in American public policy and grassroots organization.

[Kenny Torrella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books.