Cesar Chavez documentary screened for local high school students
“It’s almost like I know him like you guys know him.”
That’s Eduardo Chavez feels about his grandfather, prominent labor leader Cesar Chavez. He was only an infant when Cesar died in 1993.
“It’s my personal journey to better connect my grandfather’s legacy, his life’s message, his work as an activist,” he said.
That’s all part of his documentary called “Hailing Cesar”. It’s being screened at the American Documentary Film Festival (AmDocs) in Palm Springs. Cathedral City High School students were given the first screening. Chavez, the filmmaker, says the subject matter is especially relevant for the Coachella Valley, where the labor leader spent time organizing in the 1970s.
“I hope there are people who can relate to the farm worker struggle and for those who aren’t so familiar, I hope they can get a little education on farm workers and how important they are to our community,” Eduardo Chavez said.
Cesar Chavez’s son Fernando says he supported Eduardo doing the film and working in the fields, picking crops. He feels it’s something students could learn about the history of local agriculture.
“The experience to get out there and walk in somebody’s shoes to do this day in and day out over 30 years. I thought would be very enlightening,” he said.
Ultimately, Eduardo Chavez hopes his film will make an impression on students to become politically active.
“Hopefully my film can inspire the new generation of young activists just by planting that seed in social justice,” he said.
The film will be screened at high schools across the western Coachella Valley throughout the week to students.
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
