When trying to describe Californians today, a common term that would probably appear more often than not, is different. California is truly a melting pot of diverse cultures that span the globe, from the Chinese and other Asian immigrants who sought to reach the "mountain of gold" to the Chicano community that was absorbed into American culture after the Mexican government relinquished control of what it is now, the Western United States. A common link between California's past and present is the tough immigrant worker who endures harsh working conditions and gets dirty to make a living. Weber recalls many “money-hungry entrepreneurs and capitalists who were happy to exploit the labor of Chinese immigrants” (Weber, p. 77) and how they were initially accepted as a strong workforce that could be counted on to do the jobs they whites, like the Irish, were not willing to do it, and at a much lower cost. In reality, many Chinese were unhappy with their working conditions in the late 19th century and, as Weber mentions, they went on strike and successfully managed to improve working conditions, albeit without any increase in wages. The rationale for an improved workforce was a mood spread from late 19th century to late 20th century immigrant workers, championed by labor leaders such as Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong. Like Chinese workers during the “Gold Rush” of the 19th century, Californians came together as a united force to challenge the Equal Employment Act and usher in a new era fighting for an equitable vision of the American Dream. Cesar Chavez is probably the most iconic figure of the labor movement in California. He was a Mexican-American labor activist...center of paper...during the honeymoon period of the "Gold Rush", he fought to gain the equal rights they thought and rightly deserved. This pride in oneself and one's country can be found in the stories of Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong and their crusades in California. If it weren't for these two labor leaders, would anyone have had the courage to take on their roles and bring their respective races out of the shadows and into the spotlight of America? African Americans had Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as champions of equality. Mexicans and Filipinos had Cesar Chavez and Larry Itliong respectively to tackle the tough issues and fight for their rights. If it had been anyone else, perhaps an extra $0.20 would have been all Californians strived for, instead of ushering in a new era that would shape these two cultures in America for years to come..