Latin American History /History
Answer any TWO (2) of the four (4) essay questions. Answer each part of the question. Incorporate evidence from the assigned readings (at least 3 citations for EACH essay) as well as your own critical analysis and interpretation into your answer for the question. EACH ESSAY should be at least three (3) pages and no more than four (4) pages in length. All essays must be typed, double spaced, and 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Exams are worth 20 pts. Citations must be done in parentheses after the referenced text and must include the author and page number. For example (Krauze 54). Only use course readings for the exam. No outside books, articles, or other materials. This IS NOT a group assignment and each student must work independently on the exam. Completed exams are due in hard copy at the beginning of class on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. Make sure your name and section number are on the exam.
1. José Martí and his ideas are considered by most Cubans to be the foundation of the modern Cuban nation. Explain Martí’s concept of Cuban nationalism. How were Cubans of all racial, ethnic, and political backgrounds able to interpret Martí’s vision? Based on your interpretation of the readings, what role (if any) did Martí play in fostering conflicting notions of Cuban national identity among the masses?
2. Both Mexico and Peru were centers of large Native American empires prior to the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. As a result, the history and culture of these nations reflect a large indigenous influence. Looking at the works of José Vasconcelos and José Carlos Mariátegui what was the role of Native Americans in each authors’ notions of a Mexican and Peruvian national identity? What key concepts/ideologies did the authors create to articulate the situation in their respective nations. What global realities influenced their ideologies?
3. The noted Dominican scholar Silvio Torres – Saillant describes the Dominican Republic as the “cradle of blackness in the Americas.” Despite this claim, the country struggles with what the author notes as “Negrophobia” (anti-Blackness) at every level of society. In your essay, explain this paradox. How is it possible to be both the cradle of Blackness and anti-Black? What role did the nation’s history play in the development of such strong views around race?
4. Gilberto Freyre’s writings, which influenced the Brazilian concept of “Racial Democracy”, articulate the construction of a multiracial identity in a society with a long history of Native American persecution, plantation agriculture, African slavery, and a deeply entrenched hierarchical structure built on racial and class prejudice. How does Freyre account for the persistence of negative racial attitudes in Brazil? How does he construct a narrative of racial inclusion? Why were Freyre’s concepts able to gain traction in all segments of Brazilian society whereas in other Latin American countries with similar histories such ideas of inclusion were either dismissed or relegated to the cultural level? Is Brazil THE exception?
