Introduction
Cesar Chavez dared to inform the American leader and fighter for civil rights. He became famous for achieving better working conditions for thousands of workers who worked for low wages in harsh conditions. He helped the oppressed as a former migrant farm worker and used that experience to help advocate for his cause and connect with his audience. Chavez is holding peaceful protests to fight for the rights of migrant workers and to support his cause.
Cesar did not stop on his achievements and continued to fight for workers’ rights; in particular, he held three hunger strikes, demanding that large manufacturers change their attitude towards workers. In the book The Gospel of Caesar Chavez, the author argues that the nation will overthrow the agricultural labor system to create equality and improve the lives of migrant workers. The Gospel of Cesar Chavez is written with deep inspiration and reproach to the upper castes, being a personal address from the Latin American leader to the people the book expresses his deep faith and how it has influenced his life and leadership.
Main Body
The book The Gospel by Caesar Chavez reveals the basis of the leader’s religious experience during his stay in the USA in the 20th century. It is filled with facts about poverty, nonviolence, collective action, social justice, and their connection to human spirituality. The very title of the book “Gospel” contains the premise that it will be good news about the everyday wisdom and wild and powerful spiritual vision of Cesar Chavez. The book’s author was a teacher of morality, and he was also considered a man with a big Christian faith who inspired all the people whom he met.
The text shows how deep Chávez’s convictions were in his Christian faith in a good cause and the richness of his legacy for all generations. The beliefs of this person were based on the fact that a person should be dignified and socially just. He knew the basics of truth, which were intertwined with the basics of Christianity. Chávez’s work reveals the agony and ecstasy of a man who devoted his entire life to Christian leadership despite injustice, suffering, and even death. It is characteristic that the author never lost hope that justice in the person of God will one day win.
The book tells about how faith and spirituality influence the formation and skills of a leader. The writing shows that his actions regarding protests showed that nonviolence and peaceful protests could lead to change and reform. Peaceful protests are a manifestation of the nonviolent Christian faith and are necessary to raise awareness and fight injustice against a group of individuals. Every citizen should therefore have the right to protest when injustice occurs (The Gospel of César Chávez: My Faith in Action (Celebrating Faith: Explorations in Latino Spirituality and Theology 16)).
The method of conducting such a protest can be used regardless of whether the situation has changed. Peaceful protests have their merits and can inspire change, but they cannot convey a message or change what is happening now. Sometimes, to initiate change and reform, it is necessary to take decisive action. Comparing the writer with Moses, one can assume that Chavez, not seeing God, never lost faith in his strength and accompanied him through all the difficulties of that time.
A mass movement would only exist with leadership inspired by religion, namely Christianity. In Latin America in the 20th century, most mass migrations were aimed at better opportunities and results of mass domination. However, most migrations were feasible under the strong leadership of inspirational leaders regardless of their reasons. The book argues that religion shapes many of our values and beliefs, and because religion varies among different races and ethnicities, you should be open to others’ experiences and lives. Chávez became acquainted with Catholicism, and his leadership was based on the teachings of St. Francis.
It is proved that “He shared a close affinity to the Franciscan way of life-based on humility and sharing with others” (The Gospel of César Chávez: My Faith in Action (Celebrating Faith: Explorations in Latino Spirituality and Theology, 101). He delivered speeches inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent leadership methods (The Gospel of César Chávez: My Faith in Action (Celebrating Faith: Explorations in Latino Spirituality and Theology, 56). The book shows that for Cesar Chavez, the Gospel should have become a part of his inner essence, not be quoted and studied. In the book, it is said that his mother taught him always to help the needy, and God will then allow people, and his grandmother taught him to pray daily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the book tells about Chávez’s views as a dedicated leader of peaceful protests. He was a Catholic and a man of morals and values, so he was determined to push for the rights of farm workers and the recognition of their self-respect. The book is a kind of “good news” about how lower-level employees should act. This leader of farm workers and the Latin American civil rights movement encouraged them to take nonviolent action. After reading the book, it becomes fascinating how he dedicated himself to the struggle and injustice and found the strength to persevere despite the obstacles. The answer to this is faith in Jesus Christ and the ideals of Christianity. Belief in God was a central part of his being that sustained him.
References
The Gospel of César Chávez: My Faith in Action (Celebrating Faith: Explorations in Latino Spirituality and Theology). Edited by Mario T. Garcia, Sheed & Ward, 2007.