I had heard about Rigoberta Menchú before in another class when we were discussing indigeneity in Latin America, although we didn’t go much in-depth and I didn’t know much about who she was and what she did. Therefore, before reading this week’s book I did a bit of research about her and her trajectory as an activist. This way I also learned a bit more about Guatemala and its indigenous population, and how Rigoberta fought for the rights of the indigenous and received a Nobel Prize. Knowing all of this information prior to reading supported me in better understanding the themes in the text and her story as a whole. Moreover, as an International Relations student who is studying related topics, knowing Rigoberta’s character and accomplishments made me look forward to learning more about her and her fight.

This book is an autobiography of Rigoberta Menchu and her testimony as an activist for indigenous and women human rights. Throughout the text, we learn about her childhood in a Maya village in Guatemala where she and her family faced extreme poverty. The author explains she had to start working at a very young age to contribute to the support of her family, which were jobs in very bad conditions and with very low pay. Also during her childhood, she faced discriminatory and racist attitudes from non-indigenous people in Guatemala, which was her main motivation to later become an activist and defend indigenous rights and freedoms.

Despite the treatment that Rigoberta and the people in her community faced, which made me feel very furious and upset, I also loved the sense of community that you get when you are reading about her family and the indigenous culture of the Mayas. Overall, I expanded my knowledge of Mayan culture through her explanations about her heritage and many small traditions and ceremonies she talks about in the book. The author’s parents had a strong commitment to preserving language and cultural values, and also participated in political and activist movements, which also probably triggered her motivation to be an activist.

Do you think this book and Rigoberta’s life story contributed to raise awareness about the indigenous rights movement in Guatemala at an international level? How?