Race and Latin American Revolutions

During this unit, we looked at some of the revolutions in Latin America that resulted from Napoleon's conquest of Europe.  In particular, we looked at the roles race played in these revolutions and why they are evidence that it is necessary to recognise everyone's value regardless of race.  The issue of race and people's refusal to look past it has been an issue for a long time, and continues to be a problem today.  We studied the revolutions in Brazil, Mexico, and Gran Colombia and the ways that they were affected by race by splitting into groups.  Each group studied a different revolution (my group focussed on the revolution in Gran Colombia) and created a timeline of the major events in their chosen revolution.  Then all of the groups compared their timelines and found two similarities and two differences between all of the revolutions.

This is our timeline of the revolution of Gran Colombia, detailing the events and actions of revolutionary Simon Bolivar.  Here are some similarities and differences between all of the Latin American revolutions.

Similarities:

• All of the revolutions began with discontent in the lower classes.
• All of these revolutions gained independence from European rule, but none of them ended up with racial equality.

Differences:

• The Brazilian revolution was mostly peaceful, while the other two were violent.
• In the Mexican revolution, the Royalists were the ones who gained independence.

 In Gran Colombia, the Spanish colonists of present-day Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador wanted independence from Spain.  Simon Bolivar, leader of the revolution, gathered an army of lower classmen who were discontent because they were treated as less than colonists born in Spain.  In Mexico, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led an army primarily made up of Indians and Mestizos to gain independence and racial equality.  In the end, however, Mexicans with any Indian blood still had fewer rights than those of Spanish descent.  At the beginning of the revolution, Joaquim Jose da Silva Xavier, the only lower class member of the conspiracy which started the revolution, was blamed for the whole thing.  He was hanged and became a martyr for the revolution.  The new emperor of Brazil became unpopular when he filled his cabinet with Portuguese-born members.

Today, racism is less prominent than in the 18- and 1900s.  However, it is still very much a problem in society.  Just a few months ago, in Ferguson, Missouri, Michael Brown (an 18-year-old black man) was shot by a police officer multiple times after stealing a few cigars from a local store.  There are many accounts of what happened, and it is unclear whether Brown had his hands raised in surrender or was moving towards or away from the officer.  It is clear, however, that the policeman fired twelve rounds, about 6 of which were hits - and Michael Brown was unarmed.  Defenders of the police officer stated that Brown was 6 feet 5 inches, weighed almost 300 pounds, and was moving toward the officer threateningly.  They have neglected the fact that the shooter, an Officer Darren Wilson, is 6'4", weighs over 200 pounds, is ten years older than Brown was at the time of his death, and (being a police officer) is trained in combat.  Moving towards someone threateningly is absolutely no reason to be shot six times.  What's more, Officer Wilson was not indicted.  These events sparked nationwide protest, and in Ferguson, the police responded with military force.  The whole affair sounds as though we have gone back in time to the Civil Rights Movement.  This is one of many things that show that racism is not a problem that we have overcome.  Race (and differences in general) is something that humanity is still trying to come to terms with.  However, as a Unitarian Universalist, I believe that each person has inherent worth and dignity, and that is a belief that I stand by firmly.  It is extremely important to stand up for minorities, because everyone deserves human rights.  By recognising everyone's value regardless of the colour of their skin, we can start on the path to freedom and free will for all.

Summary of the Brazilian Revolution:
http://www.edline.net/files/_6SCE3_/1f9c3cf44b98eaea3745a49013852ec4/Brazil_Summary.pdf
Summary of the Mexican Revolution:
http://www.edline.net/files/_6SCF5_/b4c681dc17802a623745a49013852ec4/Mexico_Summary.pdf
Summary of the Gran Colombian Revolution:
http://www.edline.net/files/_6SCFi_/1d4b498f9f8c12db3745a49013852ec4/Gran_Colombia_Summary.pdf