Sí se puede
Encyclopedia
Sí, se puede is the motto of the United Farm Workers
. In 1972, during Cesar Chavez
's 24 day fast
in Phoenix, Arizona
, he and UFW's co-founder, Dolores Huerta
, came up with the slogan.
The phrase has been widely adopted by other labor unions and civil rights organizations and drew widespread political and media attention as a rallying cry during the 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests.
President
Barack Obama
adopted the English version "Yes, we can!" first during the 2004 Illinois Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, and it became a slogan of his 2008 presidential campaign. "Yes, we can!" was the theme of Sen. Obama's speech following his second-place finish in the 2008 New Hampshire primary.
Following the speech Obama was endorsed by the Culinary Workers Union
in the Nevada Democratic Caucus, though it is important to note that news of the endorsement had already been circulating prior to this speech. The phrase was also used in the song "Yes We Can
", which was performed by numerous celebrities in support of Obama. Another video created in support of Obama's 2008 presidential bid
, entitled Sí Se Puede Cambiar
written and performed by Andres Useche
and directed by Eric Byler
was released on YouTube
on February 22, 2008.
During the Israeli legislative election
campaign of 2009, Shas
used a Hebrew language
version of the slogan: "כן. אנחנו יכולים" (ken, anakhnu yekholim).
, a Mexican airline, had filed a trademark
application for "Sí se puede" with the US Trademark Office
, lawyers for the United Farm Workers defended the phrase as the intellectual property of the UFW. After litigation, AeroMexico agreed not to use the phrase and abandoned its trademark application.
"Yes, We Can" was also used as a slogan by Air Canada commercials in the 1980s. "And since Canada is our home, We can show you a Canada you've never known
Yes we can, Air Canada, yes—we—can!".
United Farm Workers
The United Farm Workers of America is a labor union created from the merging of two groups, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee led by Filipino organizer Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association led by César Chávez...
. In 1972, during Cesar Chavez
César Chávez
César Estrada Chávez was an American farm worker, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers ....
's 24 day fast
Fasting
Fasting is primarily the act of willingly abstaining from some or all food, drink, or both, for a period of time. An absolute fast is normally defined as abstinence from all food and liquid for a defined period, usually a single day , or several days. Other fasts may be only partially restrictive,...
in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, he and UFW's co-founder, Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta
Dolores C. Huerta is the co-founder and First Vice President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO , and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Early life:...
, came up with the slogan.
The phrase has been widely adopted by other labor unions and civil rights organizations and drew widespread political and media attention as a rallying cry during the 2006 U.S. immigration reform protests.
English translation
Sí se puede is usually translated in English as "yes, we can", or "yes you can". The more literal translation that the United Farm Workers uses is "Yes, it can be done!"President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
adopted the English version "Yes, we can!" first during the 2004 Illinois Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, and it became a slogan of his 2008 presidential campaign. "Yes, we can!" was the theme of Sen. Obama's speech following his second-place finish in the 2008 New Hampshire primary.
Following the speech Obama was endorsed by the Culinary Workers Union
Culinary Workers Union
Culinary Workers Union or UNITE HERE local 226 is a private sector local union in Nevada, USA, affiliated with UNITE HERE, a national labor union. With 60,000 members, the Culinary Workers Union represents more members than any other union in Nevada, is the largest union local in a right-to-work...
in the Nevada Democratic Caucus, though it is important to note that news of the endorsement had already been circulating prior to this speech. The phrase was also used in the song "Yes We Can
Yes We Can
"Yes We Can" is the first single from Change Is Now: Renewing America's Promise, a compilation album organised and produced by Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am...
", which was performed by numerous celebrities in support of Obama. Another video created in support of Obama's 2008 presidential bid
Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2008
Barack Obama, then junior United States Senator from Illinois, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. On August 27, 2008, he was declared nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidential election...
, entitled Sí Se Puede Cambiar
Sí Se Puede Cambiar
"Sí, Se Puede Cambiar" is a song and music video created in support of Sen. Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. However, the video has no official ties to the Obama campaign. The song was written by Andres Useche...
written and performed by Andres Useche
Andres Useche
Andrés Useche is an award-winning writer, film director, graphic artist and singer/songwriter.-Early life:...
and directed by Eric Byler
Eric Byler
Eric Byler is an American film director, screenwriter and political activist. He identifies as hapa biracial, born to a Chinese American mother and a white American father. He grew up in Virginia, Hawaii , and California. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1994, majoring in film...
was released on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
on February 22, 2008.
During the Israeli legislative election
Israeli legislative election, 2009
Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government...
campaign of 2009, Shas
Shas
Shas is an ultra-orthodox religious political party in Israel, primarily representing Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Judaism.Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi dominated Agudat Israel, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic and Mizrahi ...
used a Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
version of the slogan: "כן. אנחנו יכולים" (ken, anakhnu yekholim).
AeroMexico's trademark application
After AeroMexicoAeroméxico
Airways of Mexico, SA de CV , operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico based in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia...
, a Mexican airline, had filed a trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
application for "Sí se puede" with the US Trademark Office
United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that issues patents to inventors and businesses for their inventions, and trademark registration for product and intellectual property identification.The USPTO is based in Alexandria, Virginia,...
, lawyers for the United Farm Workers defended the phrase as the intellectual property of the UFW. After litigation, AeroMexico agreed not to use the phrase and abandoned its trademark application.
"Yes, We Can" was also used as a slogan by Air Canada commercials in the 1980s. "And since Canada is our home, We can show you a Canada you've never known
Yes we can, Air Canada, yes—we—can!".
Further reading
- ¡SI, SE PUEDE! / YES, WE CAN! Janitor Strike in L.A., by Diana Cohn, illustrated by Francisco Delgado, Cinco Puntos Press, 2002, ISBN 978-0-938317-66-1
- Sí se puede : el movimiento de los hispanos que cambiará a Estados Unidos by Sanjuana Martínez by San Juana Martinez Mexico, D.F. : Grijalbo, 2006 Spanish ISBN 978-0-307-38359-4
External links
- SEIU Service Employees International Union Justice For Janitors ¡Si, Se Puede!
- ¡Sí Se Puede! Foundation of Nevada
- Rethinking Schools online Action Education: 'Sí, Se Puede' (Yes, We Can)
- OSU Sí Se Puede 2007 Registration Form
- "Si Se Puede Cambiar" video on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
- ¡Si, Se Puede! (Yes, We Can!) the short documentary video
- Guajiro - Ole, Latinos for Hope Guajiro Obama video
- ¡Sí Se Puede!: Recent Immigrant Struggles