The Political Spirituality of Cesar Chavez Crossing Religious Borders [Hardcover]

The Political Spirituality of Cesar Chavez: Crossing Religious Bordersmaps and challenges many of the mythologies that surround the late iconic labor leader. Focusing on Chavez's own writings, Le?n argues thatLa Causacan be fruitfully understood as a quasi-religious movement based on Chavezs charismatic leadership, which he modeled after Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. Chavez recognized that spiritual prophecy, or political spirituality, was the key to disrupting centuries-old dehumanizing narratives that conflated religion with race. Chavezs body became emblematic for Chicano identity and enfleshed a living revolution. While there is much debate and truth-seeking around how he is remembered, through investigating the leaders construction of his own public memory, the author probes the meaning of the discrepancies. By refocusing Chavez's life and beliefs into three broad movementsmythology, prophecy, and religionLe?n brings us a moral and spiritual agent to match the political leader.

Luis D. Le?nis Associate Professor in the department of Religious Studies at the University of Denver and author ofLa Llorona's Children: Religion, Life, and Death in the U.S.-Mexican Borderlands.

List of Illustrations
Preface

(Re)Introduction. Enfleshment: Cesars Body
1. Mythology: Think Different
2. Prophecy: In the Path of Gandhi and Martin Luther King
3. Religion: A Revolutionary Spirit
Conclusion. The Lost Gospel: God Help Us to Be Men!

Notes
Index

Cesar Chavez treated religion as he treated so many topics of importance in his life: as something to be willed into contribution to a higher good. This volume describes with poignant specificity the strategies of spiritual hybridization that assured Chavez's iconic persistence. Luis Le?n has written a book equal in grace, compassion, and subtlety to its subject. Kathryn Lofton, Professor of Religious Studies, lCj