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About this quote

What does it mean?
Chavez calls for honesty and patience to enable collaboration among workers. He urges creating a vibrant spirit through song to sustain the struggle for justice, honoring those who died for the cause.
In plain terms
Be honest and patient to work well with others, and keep spirits high to honor past sacrifices.
What can you take from it?
Collaboration and morale are essential for sustained collective action.

Where it applies

  • labor organizing
  • movement building
  • commemorative gatherings

Putting it to work

  • facilitate team meetings with open dialogue
  • incorporate cultural songs in rallies
  • honor martyrs in campaigns

Questions to consider

  • How do you maintain morale during long struggles?
  • Who do you honor when you lead?

Another view

This assumes shared values exist among workers to begin with.

More from Cesar Chavez

  1. From the depth of need and despair, people can work together, can organize themselves to solve their own problems and fill their own needs with dignity and str…

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  2. God writes in exceedingly crooked lines.

    Permalink to quote #44
  3. Farm workers everywhere are angry and worried that we cannot win without violence. We have proved it before through persistence, hard work, faith and willingne…

    Permalink to quote #41

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