Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights

by Larry Dane Brimner

*Discover the important history of California’s migrant workers and their strike for fair wages during the Delano grape strike in the 1960’s

*Learn about Latino civil rights activist César Chávez and Filipino-American labor organizer Larry Itliong

*From Sibert award-winning author Larry Dane Brimner
 
Here is the gripping story of the Grape Strike that stirred a nation, as well as the rise of Latino civil rights activist César Chávez and the United Farm Workers of America.
 
In the 1960’s, while the United States was at war and racial tensions were boiling over, Filipino-American workers were demanding fair wages and decent living conditions in California’s vineyards.  When the workers walked off the fields in September 1965, the great Delano grape strike began.  Did the signing of labor contracts with growers in 1970 mean an end to the problems of the American field laborers, or was it a short-lived truce? This nonfiction book for young readers follows the five-year long strike and also provides details about César Chávez and the United Farm Workers.  Award-winning author Larry Dane Brimner’s riveting text, complemented by black-and-white archival photographs and the words of workers, organizers, and growers, tells the powerful history.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Historical, Activism, Latinx, Cultural

172 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Larry Dane Brimner is the recipient of the 2018 Robert F. Sibert Award for the most distinguished informational book for children for his title Twelve Days in May: Freedom Ride 1961. He is known for his well-researched, innovative, and award-winning nonfiction for young readers, and is the author of multiple acclaimed civil rights titles, including Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights; and Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor.

Reviews

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding history of the United Farm Workers (UFW) beginning with the action of a group of Filipino farm workers who walked off the California fields in 1965 under the leadership of Larry Itliong. Brimner thoroughly chronicles the rise of union and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez and the controversies surrounding him. A compelling narrative with great use of primary sources, photographs and other archival images. Accessible and attractively design. An exemplary work providing great insight into an essential chapter of American labor history.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't have the verve or voice that I was hoping to engage in this topic that profiles Filipino Larry Itliong and Mexican Cesar Chavez in their fight for the rights of farm workers.

What it did well was help young readers understand the transient lifestyle being a migrant worker was and even harder if you had a family following the crops for little money. Likewise, Brimner shares that many Filipino workers were young men and because "interracial" marriage was banned, many stayed single their entire lives. They were also grossly mistreated by the government and United States whether it be citizenship or adequate living facilities. The one quote that struck me was one of the land owners who said "We used to own our slaves. Now we just rent them." Ooof.

Yet the narrative was a bit stagnant and I didn't like the text box placement because it was jarring to the story as a whole.

[Brittany]

Twin Fiction Book: Brown Girl Dreaming - Intermediate
Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Text Features: Illustrations, maps, special font, headings, captions

Text Structures: This book follows the 1960s strikes in California in chronological order, but also discusses the cause and effects of the laws, immigration, and people’s choices. It is a combination of several text structures along with quotes in Spanish and English.

Rationale:
Strike! The Farm Workers’ Fight for Their Rights is a nonfiction book tailored more to 5th and 6th graders because of the amount of text and subject matter. The photos in the book are of immigrant workers who came to the United States to work, yet found no real wages. If I was to read this at Marrs Middle School in OPS, the students would find many connections to their own lives, like a mirror as discussed in the diverse book set. This book includes both Spanish and English in the text as well. The main reason I picked these two books is to show students how multiple events were happening across the country at the same time. There is so much information about the Civil Rights Movement in the South during the 1960s, but not many classes discuss the migrant workers strikes in California even though both movements still affect the United States today. These two books both show events surrounding race and racial issues at the same time, but across the country. Again both books provide another story or perspective for students studying United States history during the 1960s. Brown Girl Dreaming is a story written in poetry that touches on an African American girl’s life and the changes that surround her such as Rosa Parks, the March on Washington, and Jim Crow laws. Despite the two texts written differently and over different subject matters, I want students to see the connection of the racial issues that were happening all over the country.

Connection Strategy:
First I would assign all students to read Brown Girl Dreaming on their own. At the same time, I would read Strike! The Farm Workers’ Fight for Their Rights with the whole class. I would first use the webbing strategy to begin adding facts as we read. Students would first create webs within their teams about a person, event, or any topic covered so far in the book. Then we would combine all of the webs together using multiple main circles and connecting the little circles to form a giant web. I would pass out copies of some of pictures from the text for students to include as well in their webs. After creating several webs in groups and as a class, I would have everyone finish reading Brown Girl Dreaming in order to create a web for her events. Then I would hang up a giant map of the United States and we would put pins with written descriptions of what is happening where covering events in both books. My final piece would be for students to create their own webs with a single, common topic in the middle with connections made from both books. For example, a student might choose to put Racial Inequality in the middle bubble. Then the student would connect examples from both books or other nonfiction texts to show how racial inequality was not limited to just California or the South, but is present in different ways across the board. Another common topic may be work related or limited resources.

Reference:
Camp, D. (2010). It takes two: Teaching with twin texts of fact and fiction. The Reading Teacher, 53 (5), 400-408.

[Jamie Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Students and adults are sure to study the civil rights movement, but how about a similar, parallel struggle? This book examines the farm laborers' struggles and Chavez's pivotal role in the fight for farm workers' rights. I really enjoyed it because I didn't know much about it. Any history teacher should pick this one up! Great pictures and a great list of additional resources in the back.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully designed, plentiful black and white photographs and a compelling narrative illustrates the plight of the farm workers in the 1960s.

[Gavyn Benway]

How would you feel if you had to go to work and know you are not getting paid what you need? Strike by Larry Brimner is a nonfiction book about people protesting because they are getting underpaid for their labor . It explained how thousands of people boycotted against their underpaying jobs or organizations for not giving them the money they worked for. I chose this book because I am interested in the protests.
I didn't like the book personally because even though it talked about multiple different protests it all came back to one thing: the protesting,which made the book very boring and felt like it was a loop. Even though there were no main characters there was a group called the N.F.W.A. Which was a protester group that would hold boycotts and meetings to plan their protests. This book can help teach people about the kinds of protests that were held then. I would recommend this book to teachers or someone who is trying to teach or learn about this topic. It isn’t really a book I would enjoy to sit and read, but it can help you teach others or just learn it yourself.

[Jmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting character study of the flawed hero Cesar Chavez and his mentor-turned partner-turned breakup with Filipino strike leader Itliong. I learned about how Chavez borrowed certain tactics from the Civil Rights movement: waiting out a situation to catch the unquestionable constitutional violation, then kicking the incident up the court system until the press catches wind. Significant landmark in the fact that this was the first consumer boycott based on labor disputes, which led to a good discussion in my book group regarding the state of consumer boycotts today. We are all adults but this bit of juvenile fiction was just enough information and contained such good portraiture and artifacts that we all gave it the thumbs up!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relying on primary and secondary sources, including interviews, FBI files and newspaper accounts, the author provides background to the long fight farm workers waged to be treated and paid fairly. Although it is partly the story of Cesar Chavez whose hunger strikes brought attention to this civil rights movement, it is also the story of Larry Itliong, a Filipino who immigrated to the United States and became involved in efforts to see that the farm laborers received higher wages. The book provides background on Chavez and the farm workers union's strike against the California grape growers and the links between this movement and others that began erupting across the nation. The book includes several archival photographs that evoke the flavor of the time while the text is even-handed in many respects, describing the horrific conditions under which these farm laborers lived and worked as well as the involvement of politicians and law enforcement in trying to crush the movement. Although there is much to admire about Chavez, the author also describes some of his character flaws and errors in judgment. Clearly, surrounding oneself only with those in agreement with one's position means insulating oneself from the truth, and it might have been interesting to hear from some of those close to Chavez during that period of his life. Most intriguingly, it is interesting to note that farm labor union membership dwindled after Chavez's death and migrant workers continue to be treated unfairly in many places. As I closed the pages of this attractive book, I thought about how much progress was made by that movement and how much work still needs to be done. While I appreciated the large photographs, the sections such as "Soil," "Peasants," "Grapes," "Feet," "Turtles," "Hunger Strike," "The Fight," and "Yes, It Can Be Done!" appropriately introduced in Spanish and English, there were places where the pictures seemed to come several pages before the related text, which could be a bit disorienting for readers. Still, this was a detailed, sympathetic treatment of a time and series of actions that raised the consciousness of a generation. As Brimner himself acknowledges, there are many parts of this story that remain to be told. If nothing else, this book serves as a reminder to consider the human labor that may have brought the foods we enjoy to our table.

[Kylee Vaske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intermediate Multicultural Book

Copyright Date: 2014

Target Audience: Intermediate Grades

Genre: Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights is an Informational Nonfiction book because the text provides facts about one of the most important agricultural strikes in United States history, the Delano grape strike, which occurred in 1965 in Delano, California.

Questions from each level of Bloom’s Taxonomy:

Level 1 – Knowledge:

Before the Delano grape strike of 1965, how much money did the average picker earn per hour?

Level 2 – Comprehension:

In the book Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights, the text identified multiple reasons why the Filipino grape pickers decided to go on strike. Identify and explain at least two reasons why the Filipino grape pickers decided to go on strike.

Level 3 – Application:

A strike is a form of protest that occurs when people refuse to continue to do something that is not right or fair. Identify a problem in your life that is not fair and identify ways you can solve your problem just like the Filipino grape pickers solved their problem in the book Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights.

Level 4 – Analysis:

On page 113 of Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights, the text mentioned another strike that occurred around the same time of the Delano grape strike. The additional strike that the text mentioned was the strike lead by Dr. Martin Luther Kind, Jr., a strike regarding the rights of African American sanitation workers. Compare the Delano grape strike and the strike lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Level 5 – Synthesis:

According to Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights, one of the ways the Delano grape strike had been solved had been through the creation of a union. What is a different way that you think the Delano grape strike could have been solved?

Level 6 – Evaluation:

Many key events occurred in the Delano grape strike that lead to change. Identify which event that you believe had the most significant impact in the Delano grape strike and explain why you believe this event had the most significant impact.

[Austin Bachtel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Back in the 30’s and 40’s, you were lucky to get payed any more than $1.00 for an honest and hard working day. In the book Strike by Larry Dane Brimner, it explains how hard life was during and after the Great Depression for both growers and pickers out in the Central California grape valley. This book was interesting but also pretty confusing with all the different people that they talk about.

The book, Strike, by Larry Dane Brimner is based out in the California Central Valley during and after the Great Depression. This book is a first hand account to what it was like during these hard times and also the farm labor movement. It also talks about how growers “Continued to hire children as young as six years of age to work in fields”. This movement was directed by Cesar Chavez and the unions that him and his men founded. One warning I do give to future readers of this book is to have a few hours or days to sit down and read this book all the way through. When I was reading this book, I had to go back and reread parts because they talk about many different people and different unions that was founded at this time. I thought this book was hard to get into mainly because I have not had to deal with any of the things they talk about and also I am not from the western part of the United States.

I would recommend this book to farmers/growers in the west coast. I would also recommend this book to young adults that might be going into the agriculture industry and also immigrants coming into the United States from the Philippines like the ones in the book. However, I do not recommend this book to young kids because their is a lot of vocab with in this book and it might be hard to understand.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strike! The Farm Workers’ Fight for Their Rights by Larry Dane Brimner explores the complex history of farm workers movement. Like many works related to this topic, union leader César Chávez plays a central role in the story. The narrative traces the creation of the United Farm Workers union and the use of protest techniques such as boycotts along the way.[return][return]What makes this work of nonfiction for youth exceptional is its focus on the cultural, social, and political tensions of the time period. Brimner’s well-research narrative and balanced approach addresses controversial topics such as racial tensions and issues of religion related to the movement.[return][return]The book’s design will appeal to middle grade readers. Visual elements can be found on almost every page and quotes from key players are woven into the text. However, additional headings and subheadings could be useful in assisting readers in locating information within the chapters.[return][return]The inclusion of photographs, maps, and other primary resources (e.g., telegraph message, cartoons paintings, posters, sketches) make it a useful book in addressing Common Core Curriculum standards. In addition, the author’s note, timeline, further readings, source notes, index, and other elements add to the quality of the text and its usefulness in student research.[return][return]Larry Dane Brimner is known for his well-researched, visually rich works of nonfiction for youth. Other titles include Birmingham Sunday, We Are One, and Black & White. Learn more about the author at http://brimner.com/.[return][return]This book would be an excellent addition to any nonfiction collection for youth.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the events leading up to and following the grape strike/boycott of the 1960's, which fought for farm workers' rights. I'd heard of Cesar Chavez but knew nothing of the grape strike or the other founding members of their United Farm Workers organization, like Larry Itliong. Keeping track of the various iterations of the organization and who was boycotting which grower wasn't always easy but the underlying message of everyone working together for the greater good made it worth it. Strikes and unions probably aren't something most of our teens today understand or want to understand but it is important b/c we're repeating history: many of the injustices faced in the 1960's are the same issues facing farm workers today - use of cancer-causing pesticides, poor living/working conditions, ridiculously low wages, "hiring" illegal aliens and then basically coercing them into slave labor... the list goes on and on.

Some items that really stood out for me in this book:
1. I didn't know that Chavez had "fallen" from grace after becoming enamored with the teachings of an addiction counselor, who later became a cult leader.
2. Filipino men flocked to the US in the 20's or 30's (at a time when they were actually US citizens) in order to get rich quick. However, most of them found themselves as cheap farm labor, unable to earn enough money to leave the US and b/c of miscegnation laws, were unable to marry and have families in the US.
3. How in the hell was boycotting deemed illegal!? Chavez (and others) were tried for it in courts of law, although it sounds like many (some?) of the cases were then thrown out.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has researched this topic through interviews, as well as print sources. In many cases, there were only relatives, children or widows of union organizers, who were still alive to interview. I appreciated that Brimner made sure to explain that the Filipino Americans were jut as important to the reforms as the Mexican Americans, but there is not as much documented about their contributions. The archival photos and images help to bring the story to life. (I enjoyed the editorial cartoons from El Macriado.) Although I was in school and many teachers required current events articles to be brought in and discussed in class, I don't remember hearing about any of this until my high school American History class. With all the Civil Rights protests and coverage of the Vietnam War and its protesters, I guess it just wan't front page enough to catch my attention. That makes books such as this even more important in covering the topic for adults who weren't aware of all that went on and for younger readers who are just learning about the struggles of marginalized groups such as seasonal workers. The book covers major events in the struggle in the order they occurred, and there is a helpful timeline at the back of the book. There are also lists of books, websites, and places to visit for readers who want to learn more. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in labor movements and unions, civil rights, and famous figures in modern history.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[A Reader's Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

In the 1960s, while the United States was at war and racial tensions were boiling over, Filipino American workers were demanding fair wages and decent living conditions in California’s vineyards. When the workers walked out of the fields in September 1965, the great Delano grape strike began. Did the signing of labor contracts with growers in 1970 mean an end to the problems of American field laborers, or was it a short-lived truce? Award-winning author Larry Dane Brimner follows the five-year-long strike through the rise of César Chávez and the United Farm Workers. Brimner’s riveting text, complemented by black-and-white archival photographs and the words of workers, organizers, and growers, tells the powerful story.

This book tells the story of the Filipino American workers who went on strike to demand better wages and conditions in the California vineyards in the 1960's. A great deal of research is evident in the telling of this story and the combination of text, narratives from the workers and growers, and photos really bring home the complex issues that were around during those times.

I am not sure why this is listed as a children's book. I think this would be something that older high school students would read as there is a lot of text and background which would be difficult for younger readers. I would think ages 15+ would be more accurate.


Paul
ARH

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fairly comprehensive view of farmworkers unionizing and creating change. The focus was predominantly on Cesar Chavez, but it was very interesting to learn about the role of the Filipino workers. I am not certain that I had ever learned of Larry Itliong and the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee before.The author tried to make sure to shed light on their work too.

The book had a great mix of text and photos. I liked the abundance of visuals. The text was sometimes a little dry, but it's great to have this as a resource. I can't imagine many young people reading it straight through, but it would be something they could dip into.

I was not a fan of one part of the design. Every twenty pages or so, there would be black text on a purple page. There were also green pages once in a while. I think this was meant to hint at growing and the grapes, but it was more difficult to read those pages.

One other issue I had was one sentence. I feel funny mentioning just one sentence, but it struck me as odd that a book so focused on the rights of workers would use this language: "Bracero workers [guest workers] took jobs away from Americans." I thought it was odd to lay the blame for the loss of jobs solidly on other workers rather than the employers.

I enjoyed learning more about this part of U.S. history.

[Gimena · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this book is for young adults. There are a lot of simplifications and explanations that would be unnecessary for adults.

The format of the book feels like a cross between a text book, with sidebars of information, and a coffee table book, lots of large photographs and large print.

The writing was clear yet still would challenge young adult readers to advance their vocabulary. The way that topics are covered, leave a lot of room for critical thinking and discussion.

According to the author's note, Larry Brimmer was motivated to write this book after spending years teaching the children of migrant farm workers. He is obviously very sympathetic to the farm labor movement, but he does point out several disagreements with the organizers of the movement. For example, he does point out that under Chavez's leadership, Filipino leaders and workers were put on the back burner.

Overall, this book does a good job of bringing to life a historic movement of people, at a level that is appropriate for middle school and high school students.

As an adult reader, I still enjoyed this book, mostly for the photographs and as an easy read.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strike!: The Farm Workers' Fight for Their Rights details the history of the farm workers struggle that started in California with the grape workers. These workers were generally migrants who travelled northward through California as the grape harvest came in. The Filipino and Chicano workers were not paid very much and their living conditions were deplorable. In the 1960s, two dynamic leaders started organizing the workers and trying to get them better working conditions. Cesar Chavez worked with the Chicano workers and Larry Itliong worked with the Filipino. They eventually banded together to form the United Farm Workers of America Union and led a successful strike and boycott of the industry. Their efforts took many years, but they showed through peaceful, nonviolent means that they could accomplish their goals. This book is an excellent source for kids to learn about the creation of unions and the conditions workers had to endure. It offers a wonderful historical perspective on what was going on in the agriculture sector during the 20th century.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

An account of the United Farm Workers of America's fight for fair wages and safe working conditions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a particular emphasis on Cesar Chavez and the Delano grape strike. This is a very balanced account of the numerous strikes taking place during that time; however, the writing style is not that engaging. Once again I had an issue with book's design. The purple and green pages look attractive if you are just thumbing through the book, but if you are actually reading it, they make things difficult. I found my eyes straining to focus when the background color kept changing and this kept me from becoming immersed in the narrative. The text on the purple pages was not bold or clear enough. I wish publishers cared more about creating quality non-fiction for children to easily read rather than trying to make a book pretty to win awards.

[Courtney Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many Filipinos immigrated to America with nothing but the American dream in their pocket. They envisioned education, justice, equality, and reward for hard work. The grape farmers in Delano, California in the mid 1900’s did not expect to be paid $1.20 per day, face xenophobia from Klan members, or to live in worker camps that felt like shantytowns. On September 8, 1965, Delano farmers traded their tools for picket signs to protest their conditions, sacrificing their livelihood for justice. Led by Filipino farm worker Larry Itliong, their spirit will echo across the nation, attracting Cesar Chavez and spearheading one of the most revolutionary agricultural strikes in American history. Brimner presents this history with primary sources, gripping language, memorable photographs and an accessible layout to show the beauty of solidarity and the power of insurmountable courage.

[Yoo Kyung Sung · Rating 5 out of 5]

" Like Filipinos and other Asians, Mexicans and Mexican Americans, or Chicano, faced much of the same discrimination that hurt African Americans in the United States" (p.40)

Cesar Chavez has been the iconic figure for agriculture workers' fights in children's literature as Rosa Parks or Marin Luther King Jr. have been in the children's lit. The problem is that they are portrayed as if only iconic figures young people should learn about. This book has actual facts and narratives from documents. The content is aesthetically organized a Soil, Peasants, Grapes, Feet, Turtles, Hunger Strike, The Fight while Spanish expressions are attached for each table of content titles.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I deliberately chose to read this book after The Grapes of Wrath to see how it all turned out. Wow, many years of injustice followed. The growers continued to have the politicians and law in their pockets and might makes right wherever it can.
This was a detailed look at the process; time and effort, that went into the fight for farm workers' rights during the 60s and 70s. This fight is also connected to the fight for civil rights in the south and to the Vietnam protests.
Cesar Chavez followed the precepts of Ghandi and was a peer of MLK, Jr.
There are great photos of strikers and marchers and boycotts and a list of books for further reading.

[Kel Munger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The darker side of rural life, at least as experienced by California’s migrant farm workers, is brought to light for young readers in Larry Dane Brimmer’s Strike! The Farm Workers’ Fight for Their Rights.

Rich with photographs, this well-written history of the United Farm Workers movement includes biographical information on leaders Cesar Chávez and Dolores Huerta, as well as factual information about internal dissent and Chávez’s sometimes heavy-handed response to it.

(Full review on Lit/Rant: http://litrant.tumblr.com/post/109201...)

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. I learned a lot about the early efforts at organizing farm workers, the various factions and difficulties as well as the conditions workers faced. At times I found the various acronyms confusing and kept having to go back and re-read sections. It IS a confusing subject though and Brimner did a good job of clarifying what was happening.

If I wanted anything it was that I wished for a bit more about the various personalities involved in the movement.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. I liked how it followed just one strike and hot the history of strikes across the nation. This allowed for deep coverage of the farm workers. Overall a great source and a great look into our past.

[Becket · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an educational resource, it's good, but the writing style and design are not high-interest enough for recreational reading. Unless you've got a teen who is SUPER FASCINATED by worker's rights the history of the labor.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little to get into the story of the strike of the farm workers, but as the book continues, I found myself more involved and interested. Plus it has a lot of correlations to the civil rights' movement.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully designed book. Very inviting!

[Katherine Schmitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but the best part for me was the author's note at the end, where he really turned the discussion in a more complex direction that pulled me in.

[Mackenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, and got my kids thinking about fairness and human rights from a new perspective. Some of it was a little over their heads, but well written for kids about 8 and up.