We're History!: The 20th Century Survivor's Final Exam Book

This first person narrative from Philip Vera Cruz focuses on his role as a labor organizer among Filipino farmworkers in California. It was the Filipino union that started the Grape strike in Delano, Chavez’s union joined in as an act of solidarity, and then both merged into the UFW. The discussion of the UFW focuses on Philip Vera Cruz’s critiques of Chavez’s leadership style and his opposition to the UFW’s implicit endorsement of Marcos’ dictatorship in the Philippines. I think its an important book to think about the history of the UFW, the difficulties with inter-ethnic organizing, and the importance of democratic leadership within unions. Oh, and he also talks about his ideas about religion and the relationship between churches and social movements. He also lays out his opposition to Chavez's policies around undocumented workers.