Let's get a couple things straight. Ghostly, thanks for the interpretation of the LA riots. That makes a lot of sense of the zoots reference.
But regarding the native people, the song is about both the Aztecs and the Mayans, as well as other smaller groups. Aztecs ruled south-central Mexico. They were not in South or Central America, despite what people on here keep announcing. The Mayans covered much of Central America and southern Mexico (it's a big country).
There were Mayan people and Mayan culture when the Spanish arrived. They weren't at the peak of their game militarily, but they were there and still are. A huge percentage of Guatemala, for instance, speaks Spanish as a second language. The Zapatistas are Mayan, with the exception of Subcomandante Marcos, who's Latino.
It's important to note that, despite what someone said here, the revolution isn't Mexico versus the US. It's more relevant to think of it as indigenous versus European settlers. Most Mexicans are mixed, but the dominant culture is Latino and nearly all the money is in Latino hands. The indigenous have no power and little money. They live on the land of their ancestors and yet they have no say -- especially since NAFTA -- in the laws and policies governing them. The latino government in Mexico is joined at the hip with the US government. The Zapatistas are trying to fight for their rights (as they see them) against corrupt leadership in both countries. They aren't anti-American, per se. I was in Chiapas in '94 during the revolt. They had nothing against me. They were noble, brave and desperate.
It was (and is) a beautiful struggle and bless Zach for honoring them in song and for getting other people interested in their cause. Turn it up to 11 and break off the knob!
@Heathcliff Huxtable most of what you say is current. Except... Latino is an ethnicity and not a race. Many Latinos are mixed with indigenous. So they aren’t essentially that different from their indigenous counterparts. What you mean to say is the white/European Latino own everything. Colorism exists in Mesoamerica. That’s based on race, not ethnicity.
@Heathcliff Huxtable most of what you say is current. Except... Latino is an ethnicity and not a race. Many Latinos are mixed with indigenous. So they aren’t essentially that different from their indigenous counterparts. What you mean to say is the white/European Latino own everything. Colorism exists in Mesoamerica. That’s based on race, not ethnicity.
Let's get a couple things straight. Ghostly, thanks for the interpretation of the LA riots. That makes a lot of sense of the zoots reference.
But regarding the native people, the song is about both the Aztecs and the Mayans, as well as other smaller groups. Aztecs ruled south-central Mexico. They were not in South or Central America, despite what people on here keep announcing. The Mayans covered much of Central America and southern Mexico (it's a big country).
There were Mayan people and Mayan culture when the Spanish arrived. They weren't at the peak of their game militarily, but they were there and still are. A huge percentage of Guatemala, for instance, speaks Spanish as a second language. The Zapatistas are Mayan, with the exception of Subcomandante Marcos, who's Latino.
It's important to note that, despite what someone said here, the revolution isn't Mexico versus the US. It's more relevant to think of it as indigenous versus European settlers. Most Mexicans are mixed, but the dominant culture is Latino and nearly all the money is in Latino hands. The indigenous have no power and little money. They live on the land of their ancestors and yet they have no say -- especially since NAFTA -- in the laws and policies governing them. The latino government in Mexico is joined at the hip with the US government. The Zapatistas are trying to fight for their rights (as they see them) against corrupt leadership in both countries. They aren't anti-American, per se. I was in Chiapas in '94 during the revolt. They had nothing against me. They were noble, brave and desperate.
It was (and is) a beautiful struggle and bless Zach for honoring them in song and for getting other people interested in their cause. Turn it up to 11 and break off the knob!
@Heathcliff Huxtable most of what you say is current. Except... Latino is an ethnicity and not a race. Many Latinos are mixed with indigenous. So they aren’t essentially that different from their indigenous counterparts. What you mean to say is the white/European Latino own everything. Colorism exists in Mesoamerica. That’s based on race, not ethnicity.
@Heathcliff Huxtable most of what you say is current. Except... Latino is an ethnicity and not a race. Many Latinos are mixed with indigenous. So they aren’t essentially that different from their indigenous counterparts. What you mean to say is the white/European Latino own everything. Colorism exists in Mesoamerica. That’s based on race, not ethnicity.