Tuesday, January 13, 2009

A legacy of grass roots politics

The grass roots efforts of the Obama campaign did not spring anew. In fact, the chant "Yes We Can," ("Si Se Puede"), the efforts at voter outreach and so many other movement techniques were born of the efforts of Cesar Chevez and the United Farm Workers.  In fact, the UFW was the era's leading incubator of young activist talent, creating alumni who would play crucial roles in progressive campaigns.  All of this is laid out in a new book by Randy Shaw entitled Beyond the Fields: Cesar Chavez, the UFW, and the Struggle for Justice in the 21st Century.

My Conversation with Randy Shaw: