STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
The grandson of the civil rights activist Cesar Chavez and the Cuban revolutionary Max Lesnik will headline the third annual Cesar Chavez Celebration in the Wood River Valley.
Eduardo Chavez will screen and discuss his feature documentary “Hailing Cesar,” which was released in April 2018, at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Ketchum’s Community Library. He also will screen the film for the public at 6 p.m. Friday, March 31, at the Community Campus in Hailey. No registration is needed for either.
Additionally, he will show his film at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Sun Valley Community School, at 8:30 a.m. Friday at Wood River Middle School, at 1 p.m. Friday at Wood River High School and at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Silver Creek High School.
Chavez visited the Wood River Valley during the first Cesar Chavez Celebration and screened his film at that time. It was, however, a limited experience as the pandemic was restricting in-person activities.
“We are excited that he is coming back in person with a greater audience to share how he is continuing Chavez’s Legacy,” said Herbert Romero, community organizer of the valley.
Eduardo Chavez grew up a son of privilege in a suburb of San Francisco. He played pro golf for two years but was eventually drawn to learn about his famous grandfather. “Hailing Cesar” depicts his personal journey of discovery in learning about the man who grew up the son of migrant workers who followed crops in California and lived in roadside tents after they lost their home in the Great Depression.
Cesar Chavez found his calling among the grapes, organizing a five-year strike against California’s grape growers and leading a 340-mile march to the state capitol in Sacramento where he secured the first farmworkers’ contracts in history.
“The truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice,” Chavez said following his first hunger strike. “To be a man is to suffer for others. God help us be men.”
Eduardo Chavez said he learned through making the documentary that the real cost of our food isn’t printed on the labels. He added that he hoped his film would inspire Latino viewers to understand that their voice is important and that their cultural differences, the different language they speak and the different foods they eat are where their power lies.
In addition to being a director, speaker and activist, Chavez is the co-founder of Latindia Studios and a member of the Speakers’ Board for the Chavez Institute for Law and Social Justice.
He also hosts a podcast “We are Latinx,” which he launched this year. Chavez interviews individuals about their work and how their culture shapes it for the podcast, which streams on Spotify and apple Podcasts.
His appearance is presented in partnership with the Hispanic Latin America Consortium and The Crisis Hotline.
“Como nieto del legendario activista por los derechos civiles César Chávez y del revolucionario cubano Max Lesnik, Eduardo Chávez es el vástago de dos familias revolucionarias. Los antecedentes políticos y activistas de Eduardo influyeron en su largometraje documental, Hailing Cesar, publicado el 2018 de abril. Desde su debut, Eduardo ha proyectado aclamando a Cesar y ha hablado en 50 universidades en 3 países diferentes. Además de ser director, orador y activista, Eduardo es cofundador de Latindia Studios y miembro de la Junta de Oradores del Instituto Chávez de Derecho y Justicia Social. Eduardo es también el anfitrión del podcast We Are Latinx. Lanzado este año, entrevista a individuos latinos sobre su trabajo y cómo su cultura lo moldea. Ahora está transmitiendo en Spotify y Apple Podcasts.”
El 30 y 31 de marzo, Eduardo Chávez exhibirá su película en diferentes escuelas en honor al día de César Chávez.
Eduardo Chávez, nieto de César Chávez, mostrará su poderosa película “Hailing Cesar” a estudiantes de Wood River en todo el condado de Blaine.
Chávez llegó al Wood River Valley en marzo de 2021 en persona y virtualmente, aunque fue una experiencia limitada debido al COVID.
“Estamos entusiasmados de que regrese en persona con una mayor audiencia para compartir cómo continúa el legado de Chávez,” dijo Herbert Romero, organizador comunitario del valle. “Por favor, únase a nosotros en la Biblioteca Comunitaria para una conferencia y en el Campus Comunitario para ver la película.”
Chávez asistirá a las siguientes escuelas: Sun Valley Community School a las 10:30-11:30 a.m. el jueves 30 de marzo; Wood River Middle School a las 8:30-10:30 a.m. el viernes 31 de marzo; Wood River High School a la 1 p.m. Viernes, 31 de marzo; Silver Creek High School a las 2:30 p.m. Viernes, 31 de marzo.
Su película será exhibida en la Community Library el jueves a las 6 p.m. y el Community Campus a las 6 p.m. el viernes.