The Women Leading the Farmworker Movement

The Brian Lehrer Show examines the fallout from a New York Times investigation revealing that Cesar Chavez, the revered co-founder of the United Farm Workers and a symbol of Latino civil rights, sexually abused young women in the movement over decades. The exposé, based on testimonies from two survivors and Dolores Huerta, has prompted widespread reevaluation of Chavez’s legacy, with many institutions renaming Cesar Chavez Day to Farm Workers Day or honoring Dolores Huerta instead. The episode features Chabelli Karazana of The 19th, who highlights how women have long been central to the farmworker movement—organizing, supporting, and leading—yet their contributions have been historically invisible. Listeners share personal stories of loss and disillusionment, while guests and callers reflect on the broader cultural tendency to idolize flawed leaders. The conversation pivots toward a collective reimagining of the movement, emphasizing community, solidarity, and the need to center the work over the man. The episode underscores the tension between honoring transformative ideals and confronting the moral failings of those who embodied them.