#56 Talking with Miriam Pawel about the Cautionary Tale of Cesar Chavez

#56 Talking with Miriam Pawel about the Cautionary Tale of Cesar ChavezMiriam Pawel is one of California's leading journalist/historians. She wrote two great books about Cesar Chavez and the struggles of California"s farmworkers: THE UNION OF THEIR DREAMS (2010) and THE CRUSADES OF CESAR CHAVEZ (2014), based on extensive oral histories and immersion in the vast written and taped archives Cesar Chavez helped create. The works give deep appreciation of both the inspiring and the dark sides of the movement and his leadership. She's thought much about the  recent shocking revelations; our conversation moves from the scandal to the wider contradictions of charismatic leadership in movements and how such toxicity can be avoided. We also preview Miriam Pawel's from hottom book, CALIFORNIA DREAMS, about the University of California's history and the quest for equality in the state. And don't miss her recent THE BROWNS OF CALIFORNIA (2019) (Jerry and his father and their ancestors) , and her regularly appearing columns in the New York Times, where she's a contributing opinion editor.music: Huelga en General by Los Lobos Mixed & Edited by Next Day Podcast [email protected]