On Farmworkers Day

---

Dear Student Leader,

Say it ain’t so. As the administration engages in wars against diversity, we need Black and Brown unity. Yet, I can’t ignore the allegations against Cesar Chávez.

His work to improve farmers’ wages, living conditions, and healthcare does not excuse sexual abuse. New York Times reporters revealed ample evidence that supports Chávez molested girls and had extramarital affairs with women throughout his leadership of the United Farm Workers.

Chávez, like other men in powerful positions, manipulated minors and adults into sadistic sexual relationships. The Chávez controversy is an example of why change movements cannot evolve around one person.

Humans have flaws; some of us have more pronounced scars than others. Status and power make leaders bleed; the pressure and popularity reveal a person’s character. Some rise to their highest values, and others fall to their lowest desires.

Chávez aides ignored his crimes. Their commitments to the movement superseded the protection of vulnerable girls. However, we can’t blame them or the victims of Chávez’s pervasive, perverse behavior.

Consider the Epstein files and the efforts to protect multiple characters involved in the trafficking and other harmful acts against girls and women. Some of us lack the courage to confront men in authoritative roles.

In California, legislators renamed “Cesar Chávez Day” to “Farmworkers Day.” Around the country, streets are being renamed, and murals are getting covered. These public acts are only the beginning of the private actions that leaders must pursue.

As leaders, we must work on ourselves. Embracing self-discipline and identifying a spiritual code to guide our moral decisions is imperative. 

The Zulu term of Ubuntu encourages collective perspectives on professional and personal matters. Ubuntu stresses the importance of seeing the humanity in others and shifting from “I do…” to “We do…” When you lead with Ubuntu, you make decisions with compassion and consideration of others first and yourself second.

Whether it’s a social justice cause or a business endeavor, we must pursue private and public actions that benefit the group. The connection between humanity must become a leadership value.

Chávez clearly thought only about himself during his private moments. He didn’t consider the impact of his actions against the girls and women he groomed, abused, and sexed on a yoga mat in his office. For Chávez’s victims, namaste probably has a darker meaning than the peaceful greeting associated with yoga practices; perpetrators may die, but trauma lingers among the living.

Yes, we can…

Chávez made “Sí, se puede” a rallying cry during a 25-day hunger strike. Obama adopted the slogan and transformed its English translation, “Yes, we can,” into a mantra that placed him in the White House. If we take the idea of “Sí, se puede” and apply it to our leadership roles, we can uplift and take strong stances against sexual abuse.

Leadership begins with us. We can’t depend on men inside the manosphere; many of them subscribe to similar ethics as Chávez. They may not use their platforms to discuss how they abuse girls and women, but neither did Chávez.

As leaders, we are called to be different. Let’s honor the responsibility to serve the group and limit the ego’s desires to serve itself.

Subscribe to avoid missing next week’s post on leadership perspectives. Contribute to support this writing cause or enroll in leadership coaching for additional support.