The Filipino & Women Labor Leaders Coming Out of Cesar Chavez's Shadow

I've felt sad about the recent revelations about Cesar Chavez and deep sorrow at the trauma experienced by Dolores Huerta and the other victims.

After the revelations, I read various Facebook posts by Filipino American activists reminding people of the struggle for recognition of the contributions of Filipino American farm workers and labor leaders to the Delano grape strike and the United Farm Workers. Over the decades, the media focused solely on Cesar Chavez and ignored the contributions of Filipino American labor leaders like Larry Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz, Al Rojas, Andy Imutan, and Peter Velasco.

I have to admit that I have been guilty of hero worship of Cesar Chavez. The first criticisms that I heard of Chavez were from Filipino American activists during the release of a movie of Chavez. These FilAm activists criticized the movie's marginalization of the Filipino farm workers and leaders.

I think that's what happens when you silence one group of people. That gives you the power to silence other groups, like those women who were victims of sexual assault.

I hope that the contributions of women leaders and Filipino leaders are taught in American history curriculums.

REFERENCES
"UFW Filipino co-founder's son speaks out amidst allegations against Cesar Chavez" by Brisa Colon for ABC 30 Action News
https://abc30.com/.../ufw-filipino-founders-son.../18733569/

Here is a youtube video where historian Kirby Aurollo explained the contribution of the Filipino workers' contributions to the Delano grape strike and the history of the United Farm Workers union
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo51o6QcPgw

"Allegations against César Chavez show we need each other — not heroes" by Jeromiah Taylor for The National Catholic Reporter
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/allegations-against-c-sar-…

"Beyond Chavez: Dolores Huerta and the hidden histories of women's labor" by Kat Armas for The National Catholic Reporter
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/beyond-chavez-dolores-hu…

"Philip Vera Cruz: A Personal history of Filipino Immigrants and the Farmworkers Movement" a book by Craig Scharlin & Lilia Villanueva
https://www.amazon.com/Philip-Vera-Cruz-Immigrants-Farmworkers/dp/02959…

"Delano Manongs" a documentary by Marissa Aroy about Larry Itliong and the Filipino farmworkers who began the 1965 Delano grape strike
https://www.pbs.org/video/kvie-viewfinder-delano-manongs/

"Dolores" a PBS Independent Lens documentary by Peter Bratt about Dolores Huerta
https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/dolores-huerta/

"Women leading farmworker movement won’t let it be defined by Cesar Chavez" by Chabeli Carrazana, Shefali Luthra & Marissa Martinez for Salon
https://www.salon.com/2026/03/22/women-leading-farmworker-movement-wont…

"Filipino Labor Leaders of the Delano Grape Strike Hall of Honor Induction" by the U.S. Department of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/hallofhonor/2024-filipino-farm-wor…