Waves of Recovery: The Life of an Advocate of Latino Civil Rights

by Maurice Jourdane

This a riveting personal account of Maurice Jourdane--currently a Superior Court Judge and a member of Jerry Brown's California Attorney General's Office--leading to his legal representation and advocacy for farm workers and César Chávez's organizing efforts. Mo's life reads like a Greek mythic tale in which the hero suffers and endures moral and physical endurance in his quest, his now legendary legal fights and successes against the powerful California growers and agricultural interests in court. This biography is a testament to human strength in behalf of justice for Latinos. The success of César Chávez's civil rights movement and union organizing efforts cannot be fully understood without knowledge of the life and sacrifices of Maurice Jourdane, El Cortito. His legal successes, at great personal costs, solidified Chávez's leadership and prepared the way for the consolidation of the Farm Workers' Union, and ultimately for the farm workers to prevail against the powerful political and economic interests of the California growers.

319 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2007

Reviews

[Lafatm3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, more than any book I've ever read, really hit home for me. I say that because I have a personal connection to the author, Maurice "Mo" Jourdane. I studied Jourdane in one of my graduate school classes and was fortunate enough to get in contact with him through my work with the Cesar Chavez Service Clubs of San Diego. Jourdane actually came into my class as my guest and talked about his experiences. On Friday, March 28th, Jourdane is scheduled to be honored for his work and I wanted to read his autobiography before the event. His book tells about his experiences working with the farm labor movement of the 1970s and 1980s in California. Jourdane overcame threats as well as a near-fatal car accident to recover and continue fighting for those less fortunate than he. His story is inspiring in that he is supremely selfless; even in his darkest times he thought of the farm workers whom he wanted to fight for. His story makes me want to be a better person and do more with my life. Kudos to Jourdane for the life he has led, the story he has told, and the difference he has made.