The political spirituality of Cesar Chavez : crossing religious borders

237 Pages·2015·1.774 MB·English

by  Chavez, Cesar, León, Luis D

The Political Spirituality of
Cesar Chavez
Crossing Religious Borders
Luis D. León
university of california press
The Political Spirituality of Cesar Chavez

The Political Spirituality of
Cesar Chavez
Crossing Religious Borders
Luis D. León
university of california press
University of California Press, one of the most
distinguished university presses in the United States,
enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship
in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its
activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and
by philanthropic contributions from individuals and
institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Oakland, California
© 2015 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
León, Luis D., 1965– author.
The political spirituality of Cesar Chavez : crossing
religious borders / Luis D. León.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
isbn 978-0-520-28368-8 (cloth : alk. paper) —
isbn 978-0-520-28369-5 (pbk. : alk. paper) —
isbn 978-0-520-95948-4 (ebook)
1. Chavez, Cesar, 1927–1993—Religion. 2. Chavez,
Cesar, 1927–1993—Political and social views. I. Title.
hd6509.c48l46 2015
331.88'13092—dc23 2014031036
Manufactured in the United States of America
24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
In keeping with a commitment to support
environmentally responsible and sustainable printing
practices, UC Press has printed this book on Natures
Natural, a fi ber that contains 30% post-consumer waste
and meets the minimum requirements of ansi/niso
z39.48-1992 (r 1997) (Permanence of Paper).
To my grandmother, Cipriana García León,
a California farm worker

contents
List of Illustrations ix
Preface xi
(Re)Introduction. Enfl eshment: Cesar’s Body 1
1. Mythology: Think Diff erent 33
2. Prophecy: In the Path of Gandhi and Martin Luther King 75
3. Religion: A Revolutionary Spirit 116
Conclusion. The Lost Gospel: “God Help Us to Be Men!” 159
Notes 179
Index 209

illustrations
Pilgrimage to Sacramento, 1966 3
Dolores Huerta, “On Strike (Huelga),” Delano, CA, 1965 4
Dorothy Day on the UFW picket line, Fresno, CA, 1973 5
President Obama at the grave of Cesar Chavez, La Paz, CA, 2012 8
Cesar Chavez with American fl ag, Salinas, CA, 1973 20
UFW funeral for Nagi Daifallah, Delano, CA, 1973 51
Cesar Chavez and his dogs, La Paz, CA, 1977 58
Cesar Chavez doing yoga, La Paz, CA, 1977 60
Coretta Scott King with Dolores Huerta, Salinas, CA, 1973 107
Cesar Chavez with Catholic priests, Coachella, CA, 1973 127
Joan Baez singing at UFW funeral for Juan de la Cruz,
Delano, CA, 1973 148
Alex Donis, Che Guevara and César Chávez (“My Cathedral”), 1998 167
ix