BARRIOZONA Cesar E. Chavez

BARRIOZONA

Bilingual Community Expression
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues

When we analyze the work and service of Cesar E. Chavez, it
never comes short to the measure of a great leader. His work
was boldness, sacrifice and devotion to the cause of the
farmworker, availability to the needs of his people. Chavez
was a non-violent revolutionary whose words and
perseverance shook the status quo of abuse and mistreatment
more powerful than rifles. His simplicity was his flag, his
humility his trench. The people followed him not because he
defended them; they accepted him as their leader because he
himself was the people; their cause was his, his suffering was
theirs. With his struggle, Chavez gave truce to the needy,
served his country well, and fought for his people with
honor.

Yesterday, Cesar, the farmer child, arose with the sun of
hope. He felt in his own flesh the sorrow of his people.
Unexpectedly, his steps took him to walk the road of the
struggle. And against all odds, without any perspective,
without a sword of state in his hands, whether it was in a field,
while handpicking alongside, or perhaps in the classroom,
Cesar the little farmer elucidated in his mind, conceived in his
soul, tattooed on his heart the truth that in spite of difficulty,
and nevertheless the frustration, succeeding was possible,
and through struggling winning was achievable. He knew and
understood then that sí se puede.

Today, a farmer boy arises and sees the horizon, walks
between the furrows, waters the ground with the sweat of his
forehead. He looks and realizes that the struggle is not over,
he knows that he has in his hands the power of the seed.
Nobody knows his name, his destiny is unknown, but winds of
liberty impulse him while he works in silence. Perhaps he
doesn’t even know what his heart is germinating, but knows
that a millenary echo of struggle beats in his spirit, that a voice
cries to him in his entrails, and calls him to do something for
the people telling him “sí se puede, sí se puede…”