Final answer:
The phrase 'free and human' refers to farm workers achieving self-sufficiency and dignity by owning land, exemplified by the efforts of United Farm Workers to secure better wages and conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "free and human" used by Cesar Chavez in his letter refers to the state of self-sufficiency and dignity that farm workers could attain through owning and working their own land. Slavery, as described in the materials, involves working under the coercion of more powerful forces without compensation or consent.
According to Chavez, freedom means escaping this bondage, reaping the rewards of one's labor, and the ability to support oneself and contribute to society. The historical struggle of the United Farm Workers (UFW), led by Chavez and Dolores Huerta, aimed to improve the wages, conditions, and recognition of the rights of farm workers. Through land ownership, workers would gain control over their work and livelihood, thus becoming truly 'free and human.' Chavez believed that achieving these conditions through nonviolent protest, unionization, and consumer boycotts was imperative to elevate the status of farm workers and recognize their basic human rights.