Salt of the Earth: A Book Review by Jack Olsen

Salt of the Earth

by Jack Olsen

4.5 out of 5

FREE

In his book Salt of the Earth, Jack Olsen tells the story of an extraordinary group of people who risked their lives to fight for justice. This is a powerful and inspiring story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

The Story of the United Farm Workers

The United Farm Workers (UFW) was founded in 1962 by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. The UFW is a labor union that represents farm workers in the United States. The UFW has fought for better wages, working conditions, and healthcare for farm workers.

The UFW's most famous victory was the Delano grape strike. The strike began in 1965 and lasted for five years. During the strike, the UFW organized farm workers to demand better wages and working conditions from grape growers. The strike was successful, and the UFW won significant concessions from the growers.

The People of the UFW

The UFW was made up of a diverse group of people, including Mexican-Americans, Filipino-Americans, and African-Americans. The farm workers who joined the UFW were often poor and uneducated. They worked long hours for low wages and lived in substandard housing.

Despite the challenges they faced, the farm workers of the UFW were determined to fight for their rights. They organized strikes, boycotts, and marches. They faced violence and intimidation from growers and law enforcement. But they never gave up.

The Legacy of the UFW

The UFW's victory in the Delano grape strike was a major turning point in the history of the labor movement in the United States. The UFW's success inspired other farm workers to organize and fight for their rights.

Today, the UFW is still fighting for the rights of farm workers. The UFW has won significant victories, but there is still much work to be done. The UFW continues to fight for better wages, working conditions, and healthcare for farm workers.

Salt of the Earth: A Must-Read

Salt of the Earth is a powerful and inspiring story about the fight for justice. This book will stay with you long after you finish reading it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in the labor movement, social justice, or American history.

Image credits:

• Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta: https://www.ufw.org/about-ufw/history/
• Farm workers on strike: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003680524/
• UFW flag: https://www.ufw.org/ufw-swag/

Salt of the Earth

by Jack Olsen

4.5 out of 5

FREE