California higher education faculty are reassessing their teaching methods and curriculum regarding the farmworker movement after The New York Times published an investigation into labor rights leader César Chávez. The report detailed allegations that Chávez sexually abused women and girls associated with the United Farm Workers, including testimony from co-founder Dolores Huerta.
Oliver Rosales, a professor at Bakersfield College, had planned to teach a class on the Delano Grape Strike when the story broke in March. He replaced the assigned reading with the investigation to discuss the allegations with his students. Rosales described the reaction as one of shock and devastation among both students and historians who were unaware of the claims.
In response to the allegations, state lawmakers renamed César Chávez Day to Farmworkers Day. Universities across the state have moved to rename or remove public markers honoring Chávez. Statues at Fresno State and Cal State San Marcos were covered and removed within days.
San Joaquin Delta College replaced a memorial with a student-painted mural honoring farmworkers. UC Berkeley removed Chávez’s name from a student center, and UCLA’s Chicano Studies department removed his name from its title.
Some have suggested replacing Chávez’s name with Huerta’s, but faculty members are advocating for a more deliberate approach. Lorena Oropeza, a professor at UC Berkeley, stated that Huerta’s name should only be used based on her own achievements, not as a reaction to the allegations against Chávez. The broader goal is to commemorate the collective movement rather than focusing on a single leader.
