Leodoro Hernandez: Chávez a great man despite flaws

This is a response to the article published on Oct. 23 ("Book examines labor leader Chávez's faults," Page A-1). Yes, César had many faults and made some bad decisions, but so did other famous leaders who worked for their community, such as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The UFW was named this because César joined the Filipino Farm Worker Union in Delano, so of course it was multicultural. That is why many white Jewish graduate students and professors took a leave of absence from major universities to join the UFW movement. I was one of about three helpers in the union with a university degree and I did so at age 37. By the way, César only had a sixth-grade education.

When César learned I had a master's degree, he told me, "I want you to get your doctorate and teach at a university and open those doors for our people."

When I arrived at CSU, Stanislaus, there were six bilingual students in the Bilingual Credential Program and when I retired there were over 30 students per class, and now many of them are school administrators in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. All of this was due to César Chávez.

Author Matthew Garcia implies that the UFW is dead. The union still exists and President Barack Obama very recently honored César at the UFW office in Keene.

The UFW continues to pursue justice for all farm laborers. I have much to thank César for, and we all do. Fighting for justice is a long and difficult road and we are not yet done.

LEODORO HERNANDEZ Professor emeritus, Merced