By Andrea Peña
Staff Writer
On Oct. 9 California State University, Bakersfield held a Hispanic heritage month event in the multipurpose room in the Student Union. The Hispanic Heritage Month Community and the Cesar Chavez Board presented the documentary, “Cesar’s Last Fast.” The board consisted of Richard Ray Perez, director; Paul F. Chavez, son of Cesar Chavez; Dr. Alicia Rodriguez, professor of history; and Mercedes Macias, CSUB student.
The event began at 5 p.m.; although they didn’t show the film until 6 p.m. The foundation offered a VIP banquet to about 50 people who helped support the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
“I honestly came out for the extra credit, but watching the film I got touched by it. I personally went to work in the fields with my parents for about three summers […] I really like the documentary because it actually portrays the whole working in the fields,” said Jessica Cruz, an 18-year-old Biology major.
During the banquet, many people, including faculty and students mingled and talked about what this event and film would bring to the university. The foundation presented all VIPs with dinner and free items, such as bracelets and tote bags from the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
After dinner, everyone gathered in the multipurpose room. The room was filled with the aroma of freshly popped popcorn. They also had other goodies like cookies and punch for the viewers. Before the film started, Andres Chavez, Cesar Chavez’s grandson; Horace Mitchell, president of CSUB; and Ray Perez, director of “Cesar’s Last Fast”, all spoke on behalf of the film and thanked everyone who came out to support the documentary and Hispanic Heritage month. About 100 people came out to watch the film and support Hispanic heritage month.
The film was a very honest and touching documentary. It presented Cesar Chavez’s final fast; however, it showed flashbacks of Cesar’s life through his childhood and trials. Towards the end of the film, there were a couple of sniffles from the crowd when Cesar made his final gesture. There was a roaring applause from everyone in the room as the credits rolled.
“Cesar Chavez only gets a paragraph in history books but he deserves more time, his sacrifice deserves more attention,” said Mercedes Macias, a double major in political science and religious studies at CSUB.
When the documentary was over and the night came to an end the board of the Cesar Chavez Foundation came up and had a 30-minute discussion with everyone who came out. Andres Chavez asked the board questions; however, they also allowed people from to crowd to ask questions or make comments.
“If we could bring different generations and honor the life and legacy of my grandfather Cesar Chavez, I know we would like to do that. […] Hispanic heritage month is definitely an annual thing; I know there is some support from the Latino professors on campus. This is definitely something that needs to be shown into the culture of CSUB […],” said Andres Chavez, a 20-year-old PPA major.
I you were not able to make it out to the event, you are in luck because the documentary is now available on Netflix.
