One of the greatest civil rights activists of our time; the one who believed, like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, that “violence can only harm us and our cause” (Cesar Chavez); a small, quiet, devoted Catholic man who was nothing like those he helped fight for; “one of the most influential American labor leaders of the late 20th century” (Griswold del Castillo); and the one “who became the most important Mexican-American leader in United States history” (Ender). Cesar Chavez; an American farm worker, who would soon become the union leader who led to many improvements for union workers; It is reported that Chavez was born near Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927 and died on April 23, 1993 in San Luis, Arizona. (Wikipedia) His life touched many others, as his selfless acts changed the labor movement forever. This essay will discuss why Cesar Chavez became involved in labor rights, the immediate impact he had, as well as the legacy he left with his actions that influenced American society. There are many reasons why Chavez became a member of the movement, but the main reason was his childhood. It is noteworthy that Cesar Chavez was one of five children born to Librado Chavez and Juana Estrada, farmers. As a child in Arizona, he grew up nourished by the values ​​of his family and his rural Mexican-American community. His mother taught him the importance of non-violence and self-sacrifice and his grandmother instilled in him the values ​​of the Catholic faith. And as a child, he faced racial discrimination at school. (Griswold del Castillo) Chavez left school after eighth grade to work full time in the fields. His grandfather owned some 112 acres which the family soon lost to middle of paper......Richard. “Cesar Estrada Chavez.” The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Vol 3: 1991-1993. Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001. Reproduced in the Historical Resource Center. San Antonio College Lib., San Antonio, Texas. July 7, 2014Jusko, Adam. “Cesar Chavez.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 vol. Gale Research, 1998. Reproduced in History Resource Center. San Antonio College Lib., San Antonio, Texas. July 7, 2014Ramakrishnan, Karthick S. “Cesar Estrada Chavez.” Civil rights in the United States. 2 vol. Macmillan Reference USA, 2000. Reproduced in History Resource Center. San Antonio College Lib., San Antonio, Texas. July 7, 2014 Russell, Dennis. “Cesar Chavez.” St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. 5 vol. St. James Press, 2010. Reprinted in History Resource Center. San Antonio College Lib., San Antonio, Texas. July 7 2014