Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century

"Deftly tracing the legacy of Cesar Chavez and the UFW, Randy Shaw finds their influence in the grassroots electoral model that now dominates progressive political campaigns; in the modern reshaping of the American labor movement; in the growth of Latino political power; in the fight for environmental justice; in the burgeoning national movement for immigrant rights; and elsewhere. Many of the ideas, tactics, an strategies that Chavez and the UFW initiated or revived - the consumer boycott, clergy-labor partnerships, and grassroots voter outreach - are now so commonplace that their roots in the farmworkers' movement have been forgotten." Beyond the Fields also describes how the UFW became the era's leading incubator of young activist talent. The group spawned a generation of skilled alumni who went on to play key roles in a wide range of social justice struggles and became mentors to new generations of activists. Shaw recounts the inspiring life stories of many of these UFW alumni, offering a rare glimpse into how young people's lives can be transformed when they join with others to make a positive difference in the world.