Indian Communities and the Quincentenary
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4773117 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Héctor Díaz-Polanco, John F Uggen |
| Year | 1992 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 6-24 |
| Publication date | 1992-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Latin American Perspectives (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0094-582X • E-ISSN: 1552-678X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0094582x9201900302 |
| OpenAlex | W1997464131 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
The chronicler of the tells us on the island of Cuba at the beginning of the 16th century, the cacique Hatuey gathered his people together to discuss the arrival of the Spaniards and the news of the cruelties they had perpetrated on the island of Hispaniola. Hatuey asked, Do all of you understand why the Europeans are enslaving and killing us? Because they are cruel and evil, they replied. Hatuey responded, It is not just for reason but also because they have a god whom they worship and love very much. Then he picked up a piece of gold and added, is the god of the Christians. The brave cacique fought valiantly against the usurpers of his lands and the destroyers of his country. In the end he was captured and condemned to die at the stake. While he was awaiting death, a Franciscan monk told him if he accepted the Catholic faith he would go to heaven, where he would find eternal peace, but if he did not, he would be sent to hell and eternal damnation. Hatuey asked, Do Christians also go to heaven? The monk replied the good ones did. The cacique responded he wanted to go to hell, where there would not be any Spaniards. is the fame and honor, the chronicler laments, that God and our holy faith have won for the Christians who have gone to the Indies (Las Casas, 1989: 46-47). This was the general perception in Indian communities of the process of colonization going on at time, and today's Indians have not changed their perception. Apart from its enormous historical tactlessness, any celebration of the conquest as a heroic civilizing feat would constitute an unforgivable offense against contemporary indigenous peoples. A legend? Perhaps. In any case, setting aside all the interested interpretations of events were made at the time, I agree with those historians who argue the so-called black legend accurately and objectively reflects those events. The conquered could hardly accept the evange
Ancient history · Damnation · Faith · Heaven · Honor · Theology · Worship · Cuban History and Society · History · Philosophy · Religious studies
| Citations per year | 0.06 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1995 - 2003 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |