The following poem is one of my favorite ways to describe the many César E. Chávez celebrations I see throughout the year. There are many community leaders, politicians, and school administrators that use César’s name to further pat themselves on the back. These individuals use César’s name to give each other awards yet forget to mention or discuss his mission and the power of organizing people. They forget that César would want us to discuss real issues and organize one another in order to tackle the root of the problem that still exists today. We are quick to chant “Si se puede” but we are slow to create and implement plans that actually make our goals a reality. I read the poem below over a decade ago and I still think of it whenever I see César Chávez rallies, marches, and award ceremonies. So, after all these years and decades after Chávez’s death; how much has changed?
Turning In Your Grave – Tribute to Cesar Chavez
i am wearing a
Cesar Chavez t-shirt
driving a car with
Cesar Chavez stickers
on Cesar Chavez boulevard
passing by
Cesar Chavez school
on Cesar Chavez day
hearing
Cesar Chavez commercials
on the local radio
and seeing
Cesar Chavez billboards
announcing a
Cesar Chavez march
sponsored by multi-national
corporations
wondering
if
we praise you
or curse you
when farm-workers are still underpaid
under-appreciated
when immigrants
are scapegoated
when nothing you stood for
is respected
are you being praised
or institutionalized?
are you getting your due
or being silenced
into a catch phrase
porque
‘Si se puede’
‘olvidar la opresion’
‘Si se puede’
‘convertirte’
into an icon
and forget that
your ideas were never followed
and still aren’t today
so i assume you’d rather me not
wear a Cesar Chavez shirt
driving a car with Cesar Chavez stickers
on Cesar Chavez boulevard
as i pass by
Cesar Chavez school
on Cesar Chavez day
but rather
honor you with
justice fairwages
equality and not just
trophies
street names and
crumbs
perdonanos Cesar
i hope you’ll soon stop
turning in your grave
Modos 