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turning in your grave-tribute to Cesar Chavez
Photography: Sal Rojas | Location: East Los Angeles, CA
i am wearing a
Cesar Chavez t-shirt
driving a car with
Cesar Chavez stickers
on Cesar Chavez boulevard
passing by
Cesar Chavez school
on Cesar Chavez day
hearing
Cesar Chavez commercials
on the local radio
and seeing
Cesar Chavez billboards
announcing a
Cesar Chavez march
sponsored by multi-national
corporations
wondering
if
we praise you
or curse you
when farm-workers are still underpaid
under-appreciated
when immigrants
are scapegoated
when nothing you stood for
is respected
are you being praised
or institutionalized?
are you getting your due
or being silenced
into a catch phrase
porque
'Si se puede'
'olvidar la opresion'
'Si se puede'
'convertirte'
into an icon
and forget that
your ideas were never followed
and still aren't today
so i assume you'd rather me not
wear a Cesar Chavez shirt
driving a car with Cesar Chavez stickers
on Cesar Chavez boulevard
as i pass by
Cesar Chavez school
on Cesar Chavez day
but rather
honor you with
justice fairwages
equality and not just
trophies
street names and
crumbs
perdonanos Cesar
i hope you'll soon stop
turning in your grave
Written by: Cesar A. Cruz
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