Cesar Chavez
“On Ending Fast”
March 10, 1968
Above, Cesar Chavez is seen bed ridden as he fasts as a sign of protest for the people of his movement.
Below, on the left, Rev. Jim Drake. On the right, Andy Imutan, Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong, and Senator
Robert Kennedy participate in a rally in Delano, California before Cesar Chavez’s breaks his 25-day fast.
Directions: Complete each section of this HyperDoc. In the first section, you will annotate the speech
written by Cesar Chavez and delivered by Reverend Jim Drake on March 10, 1968. In the second section,
you will use your annotations to answer three short answer questions to analyze Chavez’s use of Rhetoric.
Background: The following statement by Cesar Chavez was read to nearly 8,000 farm workers gathered in
Delano on Sunday, March 10,1968 to break bread with their leader thus to celebrate their unity and their
determination to continue a militant but non-violent struggle for social justice.
Section 1
Annotating for Ethos, Logos, and Pathos
Directions:
Step 1 - Identify in the article if the author says something that is Ethos, Logos, and/or Pathos in the
paragraph. Quote the exact phrase that can be used as evidence of the device. You do not
need all three for each paragraph. Some paragraphs may only use one of the devices.
Step 2 - Explain what the author means. What is he telling the audience. What information is being
given?
Step 3 - Explain why this matters. What is the purpose of the rhetoric? In other words, why does it
matter? What rhetorical effect does it have on the audience?
Speech
Ethos
Logos
Pathos
1 I have asked the Rev. James
Drake to read this statement to
you because my heart is so full
and my body too weak to be
able to say what I feel. My warm
thanks to all of you for coming
today. Many of you have been
here before, during the Fast.
Some have sent beautiful cards
and telegrams and made
offerings at the Mass. All of
these expressions of your love
have strengthened me and I am
grateful.
Say: “Rev. James
Drake to read this
statement”
2 We should all express our
thanks to Senator [Robert]
Kennedy for his constant work
on behalf of the poor, for his
personal encouragement to me,
and for taking time to break
bread with us today.
Say: “our thanks to
Senator Kennedy”
3 I do not want any of you to be
deceived about the Fast. The
strict Fast of water only which I
undertook on February 16
ended after the 21st day
because of the advice of our
doctor, James McKnight, and
other physicians. Since that
time I have been taking liquids
Mean: The reverend
is a religious leader
who is reading the
statement aloud for
him.
Matter: Adds to the
importance of his
message, by having
the reverend read the
letter, people are
more likely to see the
comparison to Jesus,
the message of
sacrifice and nonviolence comes from
the reverend.
Mean: Establishes the
ethos of Sen. Kennedy
and his support of
Chavez.
Say: “all of you” “Many
of you”
Mean: Chavez is
recognizing that there
are 8000 people in the
audience.
Matter: It makes his
message seem like
many people support it
and the union is very
strong.
Say: “constant work”
“taking time to break
bread”
Say: “my heart is so
full” “warm thanks”
“All of these
expressions of your
love”
Mean: The support
Chavez has received
has made him feel
welcomed and
appreciated.
Matter: Chavez
needs their support to
encourage him that
the movement is
working, and that his
efforts are worth it. He
is acknowledging the
people in the
audience.
Say: “his constant
work on behalf of
the poor” “personal
encouragement”
Matter: This helps
establish the ethos
of Cesar Chavez, his
importance on the
national stage.
Mean: Sen. Kennedy
is a busy man working Mean: It shows their
on behalf of poor
personalities and
people.
why so many loved
them both,
Matter: It
especially for their
demonstrates
work for the poor.
Kennedy’s ethos and
elevates Chavez’
Matter: Their
status.
passion for
humanity is evident,
as shown by the
crowd.
Say: “the advice of
our doctor”
Say: “strict fast of
water only”
Mean: Cesar is
following the advice
of the experts, the
physicians
Mean: The fast was
real and dangerous.
Matter: Again, it
demonstrates to the
in order to prevent serious
damage to my kidneys.
Matter: It shows the
seriousness of the
fast and Cesar’s
commitment.
world Cesar’s
dedication to the
cause.
Say:
4 We are gathered here today
not so much to observe the end
of the Fast but because we are
a family bound together in a
Mean:
common struggle for justice. We
are a Union family celebrating
our unity and the nonviolent
Matter:
nature of our movement.
Perhaps in the future we will
come together at other times
and places to break bread and
to renew our courage and to
celebrate important victories.
Say:
5 The Fast has had different
meanings for different people.
Say:
Say: “we are a
family bound
together”
Mean:
Mean:
Matter:
Matter:
Mean:
Matter:
6 Some of you may still wonder
about its meaning and
importance. It was not intended
as a pressure against any
growers. For that reason, we
have suspended negotiations
and arbitration proceedings and
relaxed the militant picketing
and boycotting of the strike
during this period. I undertook
the Fast because my heart was
filled with grief and pain for the
sufferings of farm workers. The
Fast was first for me and then
for all of us in this Union. It was
a Fast for nonviolence and a
call to sacrifice.
Say: “
Say:
Mean:
Mean:
7 When we are really honest
with ourselves we must admit
that our lives are all that really
Say:
Say:”my heart was
filled with grief and
pain”
Mean:
Matter:
Matter:
Matter:
Say:
Say:
belong to us. So it is how we
use our lives that determines
what kind of men we are. It is
my deepest belief that only by
giving our lives do we find life. I
am convinced that the truest act
of courage, the strongest act of
manliness is to sacrifice
ourselves for others in a totally
non-violent struggle for justice.
Mean:
Mean:
Mean:
Matter:
Matter:
Matter:
Say:
8 To be a man is to suffer for
others. God help us to be men!
Mean:
Matter:
Section 2
Analyzing the Speech for Rhetoric
Directions: Answer each short response question in the form of a CER. You MUST use evidence from the
text in the form of a direct quote to support your answer. This first one provides you with a sentence frame
to assist you in writing your response.
How does Cesar Chavez use Ethos in his speech?
In the speech “On Ending Fast,” Cesar Chavez uses Ethos to ________. For example, he explained,
“____.” This is a persuasive form of Ethos because _______.
How does Cesar Chavez use Logos in his speech?
How does Cesar Chavez use Pathos in his speech?