Cesar E. Chavez: The Pride of the People

    (Broomtown, 2002)
™ and © Broomtown Media

The story of Cesar Chavez is not one that many children know, and that is something Glenn Brown is trying to change by bringing to classrooms the life of the migrant farm worker and union leader.

And this comic book really can be used in classrooms. Brown has set it up as a bilingual (English and Spanish) comic book. Following the story are questions, definitions, a map of California (where Chavez lived), and discussion questions. Pencils, colors, and writing are spectacular, with writing and pencils by Brown, inking by Larry Welch, colors by Ben Prenevost, and lettering and design by CrossGen’s Dave Lanphear.

Each version of the story is only six pages long, making the publication itself too short. Portraying the complexities of Chavez, his career, and what he did would take far more than six pages. It’s to be hoped that, in upcoming educational comic books from Browntown, there will be more story for the students. Teaching students about topics like Cesar Chavez should take longer than three minutes.

— Nathan Melby
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