Google, known for ignoring Christian landmarks on its doodles, has done it again.
Rather than celebrate the resurrection of the most influential life in History, Google has decided to pay tribute to… Cesar Chavez.
My family has a personal connection with the United Farm Worker labor leader. My mother grew up just minutes from his headquarters and frequented his office many times, and got to know him and his operation quite well.
Despite what he is praised for — leading the fight for labor rights especially in the Latin community — he was not universally well-received, even among his fellow farm workers.
My mother grew up picking cotton right along side the workers Chavez claimed to lead. She gained an appreciation for the work and the people doing the work, but was never impressed with Chavez’s “leadership.”
“He was an idiot!” I remember her telling me on multiple occasions. And he would often impede the wages of farm workers by insisting they refuse their labor services to hold out for “something more” — something more they often didn’t want or need, but it improved his influence and his bottom line. Mexican immigrants — illegal or legal — in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California have a reputation for pride and incomparable work ethic. Even today, thousands of workers go out into the field — father, mother, and children all — and want nothing more than an honest wage for honest work. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was the same way. And thousands of these families, in their own eyes, receive just that.
There were exploitations, and there still are today, and perhaps Chavez did bring light to some injustices in that industry. But leading boycotts against employers when many of the workers themselves had no complaints often brought industry to a standstill, caused undue animosity between groups, raised prices, and set off generations of activism that look to Chavez as a role model for the Hispanic community.
Likewise, in my own generation, I grew up picking oranges right along side the workers Chavez claimed to help. (I didn’t get paid, but they did.) I remember learning in broken English/Spanish about their work, their work ethic, and their family and community strength. Did they want more? Yes. But were they happy? Yes. And I can remember on countless occasions hearing their gratefulness just to be able to work — not just “to work” (labor gratia laboris), but to provide a valuable service and get their just reward and proudly trade that reward for the perpetuation of their family.
Maybe Chavez did some good things. But whether his efforts were ultimately beneficial or detrimental is not really the point.
Christ’s resurrection is infinitely more significant — and not just to farm workers, Mexicans, or Latin-Americans. While Cesar Chavez exclaimed “UVAS NO!!,” [No grapes] Christ claimed, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” While Chavez’s motto was “Si Se Puede!” [You can do it!] Christ knew that “apart from me you can do nothing.”
I’m not offended, Google, but I’ll take the life of Christ over the life of Chavez every March 31st, Easter Day or not.
