What was your overall experience in Latin American Studies? What were your favorite topics learned during this course?
I have learned so much in Latin American Studies this semester. From Tupac Amaru to Fidel Castro to Cesar Chavez. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this class compared to my others.
We have touched upon many topics in class, but I’ll only mention some of my favorites. To begin, Subcomandante Marcos is considered a hero in Mexico. Marcos named himself “Subcomandante” because he wanted the public to know that he was not the leader of the indigenous tribes but rather the assistant. His purpose was to help indigenous families in Mexico and to help them gain their rights as citizens. Marcos wanted to improve their living condition because he witnessed large families living in a one-room house. The houses were not made out of brick or had the capacity of sustaining a natural disaster. Marcos was an educated man who used media to gain followers that could potentially support him, such as the United States. Lastly, he was part of the Zapatista Movement, which was a guerilla militia that started in the 20th century. The members who joined wanted the same thing as Marcos, helping the natives in Mexico and spreading awareness. Another one of my favorite lectures was disability in the Caribbean. Dr. Seide, a medical sociologist, presented this topic and exemplified its significance. For instance, in 2010, there was an earthquake in Haiti increased the number of people who were disabled and impacted hundreds. In Haiti, the houses are not built in a manner to survive earthquakes. The houses are built with iron and cement, which easily falls during an earthquake eruption. In addition, individuals who are diable live a difficult life in Haiti because of its structure. The roads are not constructed in a way to help those who are impaired. Also, healthcare is private, which makes it less available to people without money. Lastly, people with disabilities in Haiti are discriminated against and viewed as abnormal. Hence, both of these topics were executed excellently, increasing my interest.
To finish, I can honestly say that my time in this course has been great. It has been a blessing to have Dr. Crandall as a professor.
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