Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy in the Civil Rights space is an ever-present inspiration to all oppressed and marginalized people. MLK played a massively pivotal role in inspiring the Black community, but through his speeches, struggles, and political views, he also effectively highlighted that the spirit of mutuality is where we needed to collectively focus. As MLK noted, “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
César Chávez admired MLK’s work and MLK was impressed by what Chávez was achieving for the movement. MLK sent a telegram where he recognized that the work that needed to be done for both Black and Latino people were the same struggles and they both needed to support each other.
Cesar Chávez and Dolores Huerta, co-founders of the United Farm Workers of America, inspired by MLK’s work, launched their own marches in California and adopted nonviolent strategies like boycotts and picketing.
MLK contacted Gilberto Gerena Valentín, president of the NYC Puerto Rican Day Parade, to help him get a better turnout of Latinos supporting civil rights work. After all, as he had mentioned to Chávez, they had a lot in common and working together was obviously apparent and necessary.
MLK’s endorsement of Chávez helped the Latino community have someone who inspired them. Both Chávez and Huerta followed MLK’s steps and helped create pressure campaigns that led to better conditions for farmworkers.
MLK gave a speech at a rally of over 20,000 at Los Angeles’ Wrigley Field. He sponsored special guest speaker Juan Cornejo (the first Mexican American elected to the all-white city council). His presence inspired people to donate to various causes that fought for people of color’s needs.
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