Rigoberta Menchu Analysis

Throughout history in the Americas many Native Americans have been repressed by conquerors. Since the discovery of Christopher Columbus and the Invasion of Cortez many natives have been dislocated from their land and forced to work for those that invade. In I, Rigoberta Menchu, By Elisabeth Burgos-Debray tells the story of Menchu and native Maya Indians in Guatemala. In this literature it is explained how the natives struggled to keep their rightful lands from the bourgeoisies and to do away with forced labor. In the struggles of Menchu and the Mayas their struggles for survival not only were they facing forced dislocations and labor, but also risking their lives as they fight for their human rights. As many Mayas have been living in their lands

As the labor of these workers were exploited by the ladinos they would be forced to work in poor working conditions and in their lands (fincas) since they owned the means of production and the wealth. As Menchu and others were working in the finacas Burgos-Debray narrates, “We arrived at the finca and a friend and I were sent picking cotton… One day she died of poisoning when they were spraying the cotton” (103). This shows that although at the time Menchu and the people had their lands they were forced to go to the fincas and work. Since the ladinos controlled the means of production therefore the natives had to go cultivate the land of the landowners in order to make a living. Although Mayas were working the lands of ladinos, the Mayan lives became expendable in the workplace like Menchu’s friend who died because of the poor working conditions. While the working conditions were poorly and the natives were exploited, it was also the military personnel that would enforce the ladinos commands to oppress the natives that would be exploited also for the greater good of the landowners (Burgos-Debray