Born Into the Struggle: Ricardo Chavez and the Deeper Story of the Movement

Omar’s guest, Ricardo Chavez, takes us on a deep dive into the labor movement into which he was born. The year of his birth was the year that the United Farm Workers saw the death of five martyrs: five organizers who were killed for their work in the movement. It is in this crucible of workers organizing for their rights that Ricardo grew up and learned about people who shook the world. You’ll hear about the impact of the Black Panthers, the deep roots of organizers within the Philippino communities of California, and legendary organizers such as Larry Itliong and Fred Ross. As the son of Dolores Huerta, he shares his own feelings about her statement regarding Cesar Chavez, his uncle. This show will make you think about California history in a brand new way, grounded in the work of people from Salinas to Stockton and Oakland.