Yemeni Immigrant Gave His Life For Farmworker Movement

Nagi Daifullah, a Yemen immigrant, came to the U.S. to work as a grape harvester.  He learned to speak English and Spanish and advocated for farmworker rights in the early 1970’s. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society.  All rights reserved.

Sometimes heroes are found unexpectedly. Maybe they were overshadowed by a larger-than-life figure or their story got lost in history. Maybe they didn’t realize how great an impact their sacrifice would have. 

By any definition, you could say Nagi Daifullah was a hero. He immigrated to the United States from Yemen and came to the Central Valley to harvest grapes. He joined the United Farm Workers labor movement and proved invaluable as a translator. His fluency in Arabic, English and Spanish allowed him to be a voice for Arab-American workers in the fields. 

He died in August 1973 while advocating for farm workers.

In 2024, the small community of Poplar, CA, unveiled a mural to honor Mr. Daifullah and his sacrifice. 

In the Tulare County community of Poplar, a mural was dedicated to farm labor advocate Nagi Daifullah in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society.  All rights reserved.

Throughout the United States, April is Arab American Heritage Month. California is committed to marking the occasion by highlighting Arab Americans' contributions in the state.  California State Team Leader for the Arab America Foundation, Dr. Mahbuba Hammad, said, "This permanent resolution is not only important in recognizing the contributions of the largest population of Arab Americans in the nation but also seeks to humanize a group that has been historically stereotyped and dehumanized. By acknowledging and respecting the rich cultural heritage of Arab Americans, we take a significant step in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion measures across all sectors of society.” 

There are over 533,000 Arab Americans in California, more than in any other state. They came from the 22 Arab nations: Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. 

An estimated 7,000 people attended the funeral service for Nagi Daifullah.  In this photo, thousands march behind his casket. Pictured in The Fresno Bee, August 18, 1973. Photo courtesy of the Fresno City & County Historical Society - The Fresno Bee collection.  All rights reserved.

Arab Americans have shaped the Central Valley through their business leadership and community philanthropy. They have further enriched life in the Central Valley through their vibrant culture, warm hospitality and strong family ties. 

This story is part of the Central Valley Community Foundation’s “Sixty Stories That Shaped Us” initiative to help mark 60 years since our founding. We invite you to join us in celebrating this milestone and this special place we call home. To learn more, visit centralvalleycf.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn @centralvalleycf.