Educators across the United States are grappling with how to teach about Cesar Chavez following recent revelations of sexual abuse by the prominent labor leader. Teachers are considering whether to shift classroom focus from Chavez individually to the broader labor movement he helped lead.

The reassessment extends beyond classrooms to the communities where Chavez worked. In San Jose, California, where Chavez began organizing in the 1950s and once lived, city officials and residents in his former neighborhood are confronting questions about his legacy.

Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union and became an iconic figure in the labor rights movement, has long been celebrated in American schools and communities for his work advocating for farmworkers' rights. His birthday is recognized as a state holiday in California and other states.

The revelations about sexual abuse have prompted educators to reconsider their curriculum approaches. Some are weighing whether to maintain focus on Chavez as an individual historical figure or to emphasize the collective nature of the labor movement and the contributions of other activists.

In San Jose, where Chavez's organizing work began, the community faces particular challenges in addressing his legacy. The city and residents of his former neighborhood are beginning what appears to be an ongoing process of reckoning with how to remember and discuss his contributions while acknowledging the abuse allegations.