MILANI-CHAVEZ COMPARATIVE REFLECTIVE ARTICLE

EMPOWERING WORKERS: Viewing Labor Rights Education through Cesar Chavez and Don Milani’s Legacy.

By Marco Tavanti, Elizabeth Wilp and Julie Tavanti

First published on March 31, 2024 on Cesar Chavez Day, a U.S. federal commemorative holiday proclaimed by President Barack Obama in 2014 to celebrate the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez.

** Reflections inspired by the Centennial Celebrations of Don Milani (1923–2023).

Photo Credits: Banner honoring the legacy of Cesar Chavez (Photo: Chico State); Centro Studi CISL in Fiesole, Florence, the national school for educating and training union workers (Photo CS-CISL); Students in Barbiana’s pool, called the “Mare” or “Oceano di Barbiana,” were taught to swim, encouraging mountain people to overcome their fear of water and to dream the impossible (Photo: Fondazione Don Lorenzo Milani, FDLM).

Cesar Chavez Leadership for Workers’ Rights

“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community — and this nation.” — Cesar Chavez

“The men and women who have suffered and endured much and not only because of our abject poverty but because we have been kept poor. The color of our skins, the languages of our cultural and native origins, the lack of formal education, the exclusion from the democratic process, the numbers of our slain in recent wars — all these burdens generation after generation have sought to demoralize us, to break our human spirit. But God knows we are not beasts of burden, we are not agricultural implements or rented slaves, we are men. And mark this well [..] we are men locked in a death struggle against man’s inhumanity to man in the industry you represent. And this struggle itself gives meaning to our life and ennobles our dying.” — Cesar Chavez’s open letter to the grape industry amid the Grape Strike

Cesar Chavez, a prominent labor leader and civil rights activist, played a pivotal role in educating and empowering farm workers. His journey was shaped by early experiences of hardship and discrimination, which fueled his lifelong commitment to social justice. Chavez’s family moved frequently, and he often joined them as an agricultural laborer on weekends and holidays. In California, he attended multiple schools and faced ridicule for his poverty and anti-Latino prejudice. After graduating from junior high in June 1942 he became a full-time farm laborer. In 1944, Chavez enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 1946 when he returned to Delano, California, and resumed working as a farm laborer.

In the early 1950s, Chavez was deeply influenced by leaders such as his mentor, Father Donald McDonnell, Mahatma Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He credits them with teaching him about social justice, human rights, civil disobedience, and activism. These influences shaped his approach to labor organizing and advocacy. In 1962, Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) with Dolores Huerta, which later became the United Farm Workers (UFW). The UFW became a cornerstone for training and empowering farm workers through various educational and organizational activities. Key educational efforts and initiatives associated with Cesar Chavez and the UFW included:

1. Training Programs: The UFW conducted numerous workshops and training sessions for farm workers, focusing on labor rights, union organizing, and leadership development. These programs equipped workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to advocate for their rights and improve their working conditions.
2. Educational Campaigns: Chavez and the UFW spearheaded extensive educational campaigns to raise awareness about the plight of farm workers. They employed strategies such as strikes, boycotts, and marches to educate the public and gather support for their cause.
3. El Teatro Campesino: Founded by Luis Valdez in 1965, El Teatro Campesino (The Farmworker’s Theater) was a cultural and educational initiative collaborating closely with the UFW. This theater group used performances to highlight farm workers' struggles and educate workers and the broader public about labor issues.
4. Advocacy for Education: Chavez was a strong advocate for better educational opportunities for the children of farm workers. He believed education was a crucial tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering future generations.

Chavez's initiatives through the UFW and related efforts significantly advanced the education and empowerment of farm workers, greatly improving their rights and well-being. Throughout his life, Chavez dealt with severe back pain and often felt self-conscious about his limited formal education. Despite not being a remarkable orator and occasionally embellishing his own story, his impact was undeniable and evident in his actions and motivational speeches. Chavez demonstrated an impressive ability to respond quickly and decisively to challenges, solidifying his legacy as a dedicated leader for workers’ rights. Today, Chavez is renowned for Latino workers and laborers’ rights in the Americas.

Don Milani’s Education for Unions Workers

“How do you want to love if not with politics or with the union or with school? We are sovereign. It is no longer the time for alms, but for choices” — Don Lorenzo Milani

Don Lorenzo Milani is renowned for his pioneering educational work in Barbiana, but his commitment to preparing his students for roles as union workers is less recognized. In Calenzano, Don Milani declared, “I swear to you that I will always tell you the truth even when it does not honor my “company” [ditta] Church.” These words were directed to the workers and farmers attending the popular school he established in 1947. In the San Donato parish in Calenzano, a community of about 1,300 people, Don Milani encountered a divided population of Catholics and communists. He aligned himself with the poor, who, in his view, were disadvantaged not only economically but also educationally. His commitment to social justice education included a profound understanding of workers’ rights, focusing particularly on marginalized groups, such as farmers and factory workers.

At the core of Don Milani’s educational philosophy was the belief that empowering individuals through critical education and mastery of language was essential for social change. This belief was especially evident in his dedication to preparing his students for careers as union organizers. His approach to education was not merely theoretical but intensely practical, encompassing:

1. Preparing Students to Master Language: Don Milani emphasized the importance of mastering language as a tool for empowerment. He believed that the ability to articulate thoughts clearly and persuasively was crucial for advocating workers’ rights and participating in social change. His students were taught to read, write, and debate effectively, enabling them to engage confidently with formally educated and powerful individuals. Don Milani used to say to his students that “Every word you don’t learn today is a kick in the butt you’ll receive tomorrow” (Burzoni, 2023). This skill was foundational for their roles as union organizers, where negotiating and defending rights required eloquence and precision.
2. Meeting with Journalists and Invited Visitors in Barbiana: Don Milani often invited journalists, intellectuals, and union workers to Barbiana to engage with his students. These interactions served multiple purposes: they exposed students to broader social issues, provided real-life opportunities to practice their communication skills, and helped them build networks with influential figures. Meeting with union workers allowed students to learn firsthand about the struggles and strategies of labor organizing, enriching their education with practical insights. During one such meeting, when union organizers were complaining about “salary cages” and the “gender pay gap,” Don Milani burst out, wanting to spur them on and teach his students: “What are you waiting for to eliminate them? What do they pay workers for?” (Righetto, 2019)
3. Instilling Courage to Face the Unknown: A notable example of Don Milani’s approach to building resilience and courage was constructing a swimming pool near the school, “Oceano a Barbiana” (Lauria, 2019). This project was not just about providing a recreational facility; it was a metaphorical lesson in overcoming challenges and facing the unknown. The students had to work together, plan, and execute the construction, which instilled a sense of achievement and the courage to tackle unfamiliar tasks.
4. Sending Students Abroad to Study Languages: Understanding the importance of global awareness and communication, Don Milani arranged for his students to study languages abroad. This opportunity broadened their horizons, exposed them to different cultures, and enhanced their linguistic skills. Learning new languages was a strategic tool for empowerment, enabling students to communicate beyond local confines and engage in international dialogues about workers’ rights and social justice.
5. Connecting with the School of Union Workers in Fiesole: Don Milani established a strong connection with the CISL (Italian Confederation of Workers’ Trade Unions) school in Fiesole, near Florence. This collaboration gave his students advanced training in union organizing and labor rights. The rigorous and specialized education at CISL complemented the foundational skills learned at Barbiana, creating a comprehensive educational pathway that prepared students for effective advocacy and leadership in the labor movement.

Don Milani’s school in Barbiana became a crucible for transformative education. Among his students were Francuccio Gesualdi, who, along with many others, continued his critical education from Barbiana to Fiesole. He furthered his studies in union organizing at the CISL training center in Fiesole. This connection between Barbiana and Fiesole became a vital educational pathway for workers’ rights. The rigorous training in Barbiana and the specialized education at CISL gave these young activists the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for and protect workers’ rights effectively.

As highlighted in the book Quel Filo Teso Tra Fiesole e Barbiana the intense relationship between Don Milani, his school, and the world of work is not widely studied or known. This volume retraces how many of Barbiana’s students came to Fiesole to become CISL unionists. These voices highlight how Don Milani’s legacy in workers’ rights education is profound. His innovative methods and unwavering commitment to social justice not only transformed the lives of his students but also left a lasting impact on the broader movement for workers’ rights in Italy. The journey from Barbiana to Fiesole represents a powerful model of education for empowerment and social change, bridging grassroots education with formal union organizing training.

Their Legacies for Modern Labor Challenges

“There’s no turning back … we will win. We are winning because ours is a revolution of mind and heart.” — Cesar Chavez

The legacies of Don Lorenzo Milani and Cesar Chavez offer invaluable lessons for addressing contemporary labor challenges. Their innovative approaches to education and unwavering commitment to social justice can be adapted to tackle issues such as forced labor, automation, and the lack of legal rights for undocumented workers.

1. Forced Labor and Modern Slavery: Both Don Milani and Cesar Chavez fought tirelessly against exploitation, and their methods are particularly relevant in combating modern slavery. In Prato, near Don Milani’s original location in Calenzano, forced labor remains a pressing issue, as it does among undocumented farm workers in Southern California, where Chavez operated. Don Milani’s emphasis on critical education and mastery of language can be adapted to empower these workers with knowledge of their rights and the ability to advocate for themselves. Similarly, Chavez’s strategies of organizing, collective action, and public awareness campaigns can be employed to expose and dismantle exploitative labor practices.

2. Automation and the Gig Economy: The rise of automation and the gig economy poses new threats to labor rights, particularly for the most vulnerable and unregulated workers. Don Milani’s approach of equipping students with critical thinking and adaptive skills can be applied to modern education systems to prepare workers for the changing labor market. Meanwhile, Chavez’s legacy of organizing workers can inspire collective efforts to demand fair wages, job security, and benefits for gig workers, ensuring that technology enhances rather than undermines labor rights.

3. Lack of Legal Rights for Undocumented Workers: The plight of undocumented workers, who often lack legal protection and labor rights, echoes the struggles that Chavez championed. His work with the United Farm Workers demonstrated the power of solidarity and advocacy in securing better conditions for marginalized laborers. Don Milani’s focus on education and empowerment can be adapted to provide undocumented workers with the tools they need to navigate legal systems and advocate for their rights. Community-based education programs that teach legal literacy and organizing skills can help these workers fight for recognition and protection.

4. Corporate Accountability and Labor Responsibility: The slow transformation of companies towards greater labor responsibility requires a commitment to the well-being of workers throughout the supply chain. Don Milani’s insistence on ethical education and moral responsibility can inspire corporate leaders to prioritize labor rights and ethical practices. Chavez’s methods of mobilizing public support and applying pressure through boycotts and advocacy can be used to hold corporations accountable. Encouraging transparency, fair labor practices, and stakeholder engagement are critical steps towards building more responsible and sustainable business models.

Don Lorenzo Milani and Cesar Chavez left enduring legacies that provide powerful frameworks for addressing today’s labor challenges. Yet, pressing questions remain that challenge us to rediscover labor rights in the context of both ancient and new forms of exploitation. How do we reclaim the significance of May 1 and Labor Day celebrations, which emerged from the workers’ protests in Chicago in May 1886 — protests violently repressed for the simple demand of an eight-hour workday? Today, many people continue to die and struggle to claim their rights, dignity, freedom, and better working conditions. How do we care for, include, organize, and represent “fragile work” in these times? How do we reconnect the isolated struggles of laborers in the fields, subject to caporalato, with those in the digital gig economy of turbo-capitalism?

Don Milani’s first known public text, published in 1949 in Don Primo Mazzolari’s magazine Adesso, tells the story of Franco, a young unemployed man from Calenzano. He addresses him with a striking phrase: “Forgive us all, communists, industrialists, and priests.” This statement succinctly captures the profound crisis, the failings, and the misery of capitalism, communism, and the ecclesiastical institution — the dominant ideologies of the time. Similarly, Don Milani calls for the proper representation of workers’ rights with their dignity, as given by God and enshrined in the Italian Constitution’s Article 1: “Italy is a democratic Republic founded on labor.” Writing from San Donato to the French director Maurice Cloche in 1952, Don Milani expressed this sentiment: “The unemployed and the workers of today must leave the cinema with the certainty that Jesus lived in a world as sad as theirs, felt that social injustice was a blasphemy, and fought for a better world.”

By adapting the inspiring strategies of education, empowerment, and advocacy championed by Cesar Chavez and Don Lorenzo Milani, modern movements can effectively combat forced labor, navigate the complexities of automation and digitalization, secure rights for undocumented workers, and push for greater corporate accountability. Their teachings and leadership examples remind us that the fight for labor rights is ongoing and requires continuous advocacy, action, negotiation, and education. It is essential to focus on upskilling, reskilling, and cross-skilling not just to train skilled workers but to cultivate conscious citizens and agents of change capable of addressing the most urgent challenges of our times. Through collective effort and education, significant progress can be made, ensuring that the dignity and rights of all workers are upheld in an ever-evolving labor landscape.

Suggested Citation: Tavanti, Marco, Elizabeth Wilp, and Julie Tavanti. “Empowering Workers: Viewing Labor Rights Education through Cesar Chavez and Don Milani’s Legacy.” Medium (EduVators). March 31, 2024. https://medium.com/p/21ec4bad34db

‌Explore More: Cesar Chavez Foundation https://chavezfoundation.org/; Centro Study CISL https://www.centrostudi.cisl.it/; Don Milani, il mondo del lavoro e la sfida di un sindacato “di strada” (Francesca Lauria); “Quel filo teso tra Fiesole e Barbiana. Don Milani e il mondo del lavoro”, terza edizione (CISL Scuola).

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About the Authors: Marco Tavanti is an Italian-born American professor who deeply appreciates Don Lorenzo Milani’s teaching methods. He learned about these methods near the Barbiana school early in his career. Marco’s work brings these impactful ideas into today’s teaching practices worldwide. Elizabeth Wilp is a researcher contributing to inclusive education, especially in curricula and classrooms with students from different cultures and backgrounds. Her research and experience provide important insights into how schools can be more effective and welcoming for all students. Julie Tavanti is a Chinese-born American student passionate about developing new ways to teach students who learn differently and helping more women get into STEM fields. Her unique background and dedication to diverse education shape her views and efforts.