The Words of Cesar Chavez [Hardcover]

Richard J. Jensen (Author), John C. Hammerback (Author)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard J. Jensen lives in Albuquerque... more info?. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University.John C. Hammerback, a professor at California State University, Hayward, who teaches in the department of mass communication, earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 199 pages
• Publisher: TAMU Press; 1 edition (May 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585441694
• ISBN-13: 978-1585441693
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,735,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beating the odds: A REAL American success story, January 2, 2004

By 

Kerry Walters (Lewisburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Words of Cesar Chavez (Paperback)

The story of Cesar Chavez is one of a little guy beating the odds and winning. But it's not a typical American dream, rags-to-riches story. The foe that Chavez beat was systematic racist and economic oppression, and the uphill victory he finally achieved was justice. Chavez's great contribution was to show in his life and words that there are more powerful things than money and the power that money buys. Love, mutual respect, cooperation and community, a commitment to nonviolence, and a deep religious faith that affirms the dignity of all humans made in the likeness of God: these are the weapons that Chavez used, and they're what kept the movement he founded from becoming just another corrupt trade union.

In this anthology of his collected speeches and writings, Chavez's commitment to the biblical ideals of peace and justice flow with an elogance that matches the beauty of his life.

Three examples:

"We advocate militant nonviolence as our means for social revolution and to achieve justice for our people, but we are not blind or deaf to the desperate and moody winds of human frustration, impatience, and rage that blow among us. Gandhi himself admitted that if his only choices were cowardice or violence, he would choose violence. Men are not angels and the time and tides wait for no man. Precisely because of these powerful human emotions, we have tried to involve masses of people in their own struggle; and free men instinctively prefer democratic change and even protect the rights guaranteed to seek it. Only the enslaved in despair have need of violent overthrow." (p. 36)

"Organizing is difficult because in our capitalist society we believe the only way things get done is with money...[But] there isn't enough money to organize poor people. There never is enough money to organize anyone. If you put it on the basis of money, you're not going to succeed. So when we started organizing our union, we knew we had to depend on something other than money...since there wasn't any money and the job had to be done, there would have to be a lot of sacrificing." (p. 66)

"It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on this earth. It is an awesome opportunity...We can choose to use our lives for others to bring about a better and more just world for our children. People who make that choice will know hardship and sacrifice. But if you give yourself totally to the nonviolent struggle for peace and justice, you also find that people will give you their hearts and that you will never go hungry and never be alone. And in giving of yourself you will discover a whole new life full of meaning and love." (p. 167)

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspriational!!, January 14, 2012

By 

Mona - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Words of Cesar Chavez (Paperback)

I purchased this as a gift for my husband, who had long-admired Cesar Chavez, as have I. It's one of his favorite books now. Cesar was a man so far ahead of his time, with principles that he eventually died from because he believed in them so strongly. A true hero of our time!

5 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Words of Cesar Chavez, December 1, 2002

By 

vanessa avila (Riverside,CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Words of Cesar Chavez (Paperback)

This book has a lot of history in it and Cesar chavez is important to me.Im doing a history day project on him and its due tomarrow and this gives away more than what i need!...