 |
In this photo: Roberto Bustos, a speaker who spoke at Olive Street Elementary School and Granite's AP English Language class. He informed the students about the César Chávez day and the march. |
César Chávez Day: Is it celebrated enough at Granite?
Ebony Bailey | 3/31/08 | News
oday, March 31, is César Chávez Day. César Chávez Day is a state holiday in California set on March 31 in remembrance of Chavez’s birthday.
Chavez was a Mexican American labor leader and civil rights activist. The state holiday was established to promote service to the community to honor Chavez and all he has done.
The day is currently celebrated eight states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
According to Karla Arteaga, a Granite Hills student who used to go to school in Texas, César Chávez Day is actively celebrated at her school in Texas.
She said that at her school, a mariachi band would play around the campus, and the students would wait outside their classrooms for the bands to play at their classroom. She said that during lunch, the school would have a festival during lunch in his honor, and during English class each student would have to write a report on what they know about César Chávez Day.
Arteaga does not think that the day is celebrated enough here.
“Texas does a better job and César Chávez was here in California so I think they should be the ones who are taking the lead instead of other states,” she said.
But despite this statement, some schools in California do recognize and celebrate the holiday.
According to Olive Street School teacher Beatriz Hackett, their school is having an essay contest for the students on what they know about César Chávez. The winners of the contest get to read their essays in front of the entire school at a school assembly that is taking place.
Also at this assembly, a folkloric dance performance will be held, and a speaker, Roberto Bustos, from the César Chávez Organization will have a presentation.
“I need to share my story since I was there,” he said. “People need to know what we [the workers] went through.”
Bustos was one of the original strikers of the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. He was the captain of the march from Delano to Sacramento. He still participates in marches today. Bustos referred to Chavez as his “eighth brother.”
But do the students think that César Chávez day is celebrated enough at Granite Hills?
“The fact that Granite has no type of celebration or ceremony for César Chávez Day is wrong, this town was greatly affected by his actions,” Granite Hills junior Angel Reyes said. “My stepfather works in the fields to this day and we would not be able to live if it was not for that man.”
Bustos, who had done a presentation with Granite’s Advanced Placement English Language class and Spanish class, also thinks that Granite, along with other schools in the area, should celebrate César Chávez Day.
“I think that the youth needs to know about César Chávez and the movement and the story about the farm workers,” Bustos said. “Cesar’s dream has got to be kept alive.”
|
Dia de César Chávez: Granite lo celebra vastante?
Traducido por Karla Arteaga | 3/31/08 | Noticias
hora, el 31 de marzo, es el dia de César Chávez. El dia de César Chávez es un dia festivo en California celebrada en memoria de el durante su cumpleaños, el 31 de marzo.
Chavez era un Mexicano Americano que era un lider de labor y activista de derechos civiles. El dia festivo fue establecido para promover servicio para la comunidad en el honor de Chavez y por todo lo que el habia hecho.
Este dia el actualmente celebrado el ocho estados: Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, y Wisconsin.
Segun Karla Arteaga, una estudiante de Granite Hills quien vivia antes en Texas, el dia de César Chávez es celebrado activamente en su escuela en Texas.
Ella dice que en su escuela, una banda de mariachi jugaria alrededor de la escuela, y los estudiantes esperarian afuera de sus cuartos para que la banda juege en los cuartos. Ella dice que durante la hora del armuerzo, la escuela hace un festival en su honor, y durante la clase de ingles cada estudiante escribe un reporte de lo que saben acerca de el.
Arteaga no cree que este dia es celebrado lo suficiente aqui.
“Texas hace un buen trabajo y César Chávez es de aqui, en California y pues yo creo que ellos deven tener la delantera en ves de otros estados,” dijo ella.
Pero a pesar de este comentario, unas escuelas en California si reconocen y celebran este dia festivo.
Segun la maestra Beatriz Hackett de Olive Street School, su escuela esta teniendo un concurso de ensayos acerca de las cosas de que saben acerca de César Chávez. Los ganadores del concurso leeran sus ensayos enfrente de la escuela en una asamblea.
Ademas en esta asamblea, una presentacion folklorica sera proevida y un orador, Roberto Bustos de la César Chávez Organization tendra una presentacion.
“Yo necesito compartir mi historia porque como yo estuve alli,” el dijo. “Personas nececitan saber lo que nosotros [los trabajadores] emos pasado.”
Bustos era uno de los huelgistas originales de la 1965 Delano Grape Strike. El era el capitan de la marcha de Deleno a Sacramento. El todavia participa en marchas hasta ahora. Bustos se refirio a Chavez como su “octavo hermano.”
Pero piensan los estudiantes que el dia de César Chávez es celebrado lo suficiente?
“El hecho de que Granite no tiene un tipo de celebracion o ceremonia para el dia de César Chávez no esta bien, esta ciudad fue affectada en gran manera por sus acciones,” Granite Hills Junior Angel Reyes comento. “Mi padrastro trabaja en los campos hasta este dia y no pudieramos vivir si no fuera por ese hombre.”
Bustos, quien hizo una presentacion con la clase del ingles avansado y con la clase de español, tambien piensa que Granite, conjunto con otras clases en la area, deberian celebrar el dia de César Chávez.
“Yo creo que la juventud necesita que saber acerca de Cesar Chavez y el movimiento y la historia acerca de los trabajadores del campo,” Bustos dijo. “El suño de Cesar deve de quedarse vivo.”
|
|
|
Name: Micaela Lara
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 11:33 am
Subject: César Chávez Day: Is it celebrate enough at Granite? |
In response to the article, “Cesar Chavez Day: Is it celebrated enough at Granite?” I was a little disturbed by the commentaries. As a Granite Hills High School alumni and current UCSC (University of California Santa Cruz) slug, I realize that the only reason why the youth of Porterville lack solidarity amongst each other is for the simple fact that we as a community do not look past our differences. Our history has not taught us well. This is a big issue not only in the community, but also in the education of our youth.
We grow up learning history from a Eurocentric perspective, in which the textbooks educate us about the “truth.” In reality Eurocentric history has not taught us anything. The only things it has taught us is to discriminate each other among our race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. For instance, minority communities have a long history of being discriminated and oppressed. In order to create social and economic change, we must stand in solidarity by first educating one another upon our differences. Why not start learning the 100 pages that vanished from our history books?
With this being said, if Cesar Chavez Day could not be celebrated enough in our public schools, then I highly encourage for this day to be acknowledged in our schools. It will be the beginning of recognizing those who do deserve [to have] their voice heard, regardless of their presence with us today. This day will not only continue to educate and acknowledge the struggles of the Mexican/Chicano/Latino community, but it will unite the struggles of all communities. If you think Sr. Chavez is “not all as important” as to the men and women who have previously been acknowledged for their historical contributions, then you have it all wrong. If it were not for Cesar Chavez and his ideals and courage, we would not have this nation today. As a Mexican American labor leader and a civil rights activist, Cesar Chavez not only battled the labor injustice for the Mexican/Chicano/Latino community, but he also served the Filipino community. It might surprise you that [Chavez] along with Dolores Huerta, Martin Luther King Jr., and many other historical activists, worked [in] collaboration to unite similar struggles. Surprised? This is only a taste to what your history books are not teaching you. Begin to question and ask yourself, why do we always learn about the good things the United States has done? What else is the United States hiding from us?
What an honor to have had a labor leader and civil rights activist in the Central Valley. Cesar Chavez brought hope and encouragement to ALL communities in the Central Valley. As a community, we learn from empowering historical leaders that the creation of social change and the power to the people comes in numbers. We never walk alone because we all come from similar struggles, whether it is race, class, gender, sexuality, etc. We must acknowledge each others differences and learn from our ancestor’s mistakes. For those who fear to celebrate or even acknowledge the social struggles in our history through our education system, I inspire to open up and pay attention to what is really going on. Students of color must break away from a consciousness of inferiority and take a stand to an education that is also theirs. It is their white peers turn to now listen and open up to these voices. We are ALL ignorant to the true historical events but ignorance should not be the issue of creating change. Solidarity only comes in numbers.
Sincerely,
Micaela Lara |
Name: Malissa Eggman
Date & Time: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 09:37 am
Subject: César Chávez Day: Is it celebrated enough at Granite? |
That’s true. A mariachi band does usually play. How depressing! Why didn't Granite celebrate as much? That’s cheap. Good point. I didn't even know it was Cesar Chavez Day, and I should have! Nice job Ebony. |
Name: Robert A Bustos
Date & Time: Monday, March 31, 2008 03:58 pm
Subject: César Chávez Day: Is it celebrated enough at Granite? |
I think we should do more! A lot of students don't know who Cesar Chavez is and what he stood for. They think he's the boxer from Mexico! Gracias, El Capitan |
|
|
|
