Opinion: I look forward to celebrating Cesar Chavez with my fifth-grade classmates each March

Hernandez is a fifth-grade student at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in San Diego.

In 1966, Cesar Chavez, our migrant hero, led a 250-mile march from Delano to Sacramento to let the public and lawmakers know about the mistreatment of farmworkers. My school holds an annual march to replicate his hard work. Our school does this so that students can learn from him and his legacy.

Commentary

Opinion: Labor leader Cesar Chavez’s legacy continues to inspire workers, students

Cesar Chavez Day is a federal commemorative holiday held each March 31 to mark the birthday of the legendary labor activist.

March 29, 2023

The very first memory that I have of celebrating Chavez, the migrant worker, was when I was in kindergarten. It was the year 2018. We also did arts and crafts about him. We also did the Chavez march around the neighborhood to honor him. We were young so our family went with us to the march. The police closed the streets to stop any cars from driving there so that we could be safe. I felt confused because I kept wondering why we were doing this. It was a long walk because we marched for many blocks and my legs were tired after we were done.

In first grade, we did the Chavez march again, this time with posters and flags representing him. Next, we sang and chanted these words: “¡Sí se puede!” Those words came first from the migrant hero and Dolores Huerta. The march was amazing! Even the families from the neighborhood and students from Balboa Elementary came outside to see us do the march. It was a different experience than the year before because I felt proud that the neighbors were also honoring him.

In second grade, disaster struck! A virus called COVID-19 came to the whole world. The march was canceled. March 13, 2020, was the last day of our normal school life. I felt sad because I wanted to march again. I was wondering why the virus was here and what it was about. Why did they cancel everything? In third grade, we had a hybrid event about Chavez on Zoom. Some students were in school and others were online. We watched videos about him. Even though we were online, I still had fun honoring Chavez.

In fourth grade, we finally marched. Unfortunately, it was just around our school field. We also sang “De Colores,” which is a song that Chavez and the farmworkers used to sing. We also did art and a biography about him. I also had fun doing stuff about Chavez.

I’m now in fifth grade. We had the chance to do the Chavez march, but due to the rainy weather, it was canceled! I felt mad and sad because we had the chance to march around the school again like in first grade. But instead, we read books about Chavez. We also watched videos and sang songs.

From kindergarten all the way to fifth grade, I celebrated in many different ways — marching, watching videos and doing activities. The possibilities are endless! I loved celebrating Chavez because he helped the farmworkers to be treated better. He is an great example to not only me and my school, but to the whole world. I hope our school continues doing the march and honoring the work Chavez and the farmworkers did on that 250-mile march from Delano to Sacramento.