Sal Si Puedes (Escape If You Can): Cesar Chavez and the New American Revolution

"Sal Si Puedes (Escape If You Can): Cesar Chavez and the New American Revolution" offers a vivid exploration of civil rights and labor activism through the lens of one of the most iconic figures in American social justice, Cesar Chavez. Authored by Peter Matthiessen, the book encapsulates the transformative years of the late 1960s, a period marked by the Chicano, Black Power, and antiwar movements. Matthiessen's account, enriched with a new foreword by Marc Grossman, delves into the profound impact of Chavez’s leadership in the farmworkers' struggle for economic and racial justice. Published on March 31, 2014, the narrative not only revisits the historic grape strike in Delano but also travels to the streets of Sal Si Puedes, revealing the personal and political challenges Chavez faced while adhering to nonviolence. Ideal for middle-school readers, this book provides a dynamic historical context and encourages a deeper understanding of how grassroots activism can instigate significant change.