On a sunny afternoon at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, Johnny Itliong, son of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, reflected on his decades-long effort to reclaim his father’s place in the history of the farmworker labor movement. This moment followed recent allegations accusing Cesar Chavez, a central figure of the United Farm Workers (UFW) and a revered Latino civil rights icon, of sexually abusing young girls connected to the movement. The revelations have reignited longstanding debates over the legacy and recognition of leaders within the farmworker movement.
Larry Itliong, a key organizer credited with helping to spark the 1965 Delano grape strike, has long been overshadowed by Chavez, whose name adorns streets, schools, and libraries across California. Unlike Chavez, Itliong’s contributions have remained largely unacknowledged outside the Filipino American community. For decades, Johnny Itliong has been working to change this narrative, attending events and ceremonies across the state to highlight his father’s crucial role in organizing farmworkers.
“The story of my father has been waiting for its time,” Johnny said, asserting that Chavez and his followers often marginalized Filipino organizers despite decades of activism and sacrifices. Larry Itliong’s leadership stretched from the 1930s through the Delano strike, during which he helped unite Filipino farmworkers with Mexican American counterparts, forming the foundation of what became the modern farm labor movement.
Historians note that while Larry Itliong focused on grassroots union organizing, Chavez sought to broaden the movement into a wider civil rights cause, sometimes leading to tension between the two visions. Matt Garcia, a historian and Chavez biographer, described the ongoing frustration of Itliong’s family as legitimate, though he found no evidence of a deliberate conspiracy to erase Filipino contributions. Garcia observed that Chavez’s charisma and society’s tendency to elevate individual leaders contributed to Itliong’s relative obscurity in the historical record.
The United Farm Workers acknowledged that many figures, including Larry Itliong, have not received sufficient recognition within the movement’s legacy. The organization emphasized that honoring Itliong’s work would best be achieved by continuing labor organizing efforts that build dignity and protections for workers. The Chavez family declined to comment on the recent abuse allegations.
Johnny Itliong’s personal journey has been fraught with challenges, including strained family relationships and legal troubles. Despite this, he remains a vocal advocate for broadening the narrative surrounding the farmworker movement. Alongside Asian American activists, Itliong recently organized a panel and news conference in Los Angeles seeking to shift the celebration away from Chavez’s birthday and elevate the contributions of other leaders in the movement.
In Delano, the legacy of Larry Itliong lives on locally through landmarks like Larry Itliong Unity Park and a mural at an elementary school where his half-sister worked as a librarian, both serving as educational touchstones for Filipino American and Latino students. Family members expressed cautious hope that future generations will better appreciate their ancestor’s influence.
“It was not about one man. It was a movement,” said Eric Chen, an Asian American activist working with Itliong to amplify Filipino American history in civil rights struggles. The effort to reshape the narrative is ongoing, as community leaders urge public officials to reconsider the use of Chavez’s name for public spaces in light of recent events.
As Johnny Itliong returned to his life in Los Angeles, balancing modest work and community activism, he remains committed to carrying forward his father’s unfinished legacy. “I’m here now,” he said. “I’ve been here my whole life, doing exactly what he did, standing up for those who needed to be heard.”