Introduction
This paper summarizes the content of the video dedicated to Vicente Guerrero, the Afro-Mexican revolutionary whose efforts led to Mexican liberation from Spain. The video is part of a series covering the history of the African diaspora (HomeTeam History, 2020). The author discusses the role of Afro-Mexicans in the foundation of Mexico as a country and the lack of acknowledgment of this diaspora.
Vicente Guerrero’s Biography
The first part of the video describes Vicente Guerrero’s biography and background. It shows Vicente’s path as a son of African descent and a mestizo and his experience as a black man in Mexico, enduring society’s mistreatment. Vicente is presented as a “champion of the oppressed,” although the author does not explain in great detail what this means. Vicente’s experience is contrasted with the experience of his father as a reason for him joining the Mexican Revolution that started in 1810 (HomeTeam History, 2020). The author discusses the problem of the cycle of oppression in which Spain mistreated the Mexican upper class, oppressed native people and Afro-Mexicans, and the lowest status of Africans in society.
Vicente Guerrero’s Role in the Mexican War of Independence
The second theme of the video is Vicente’s participation in the Mexican War of Independence. Among the reasons for the war, taxes, financial burden, and maltreatment of the local population are mentioned (HomeTeam History, 2020). This part of the video is mainly focused on summarizing facts of rebellion chronology and Guerrero’s military success and persistence in fighting Spain even when his comrades accepted the king’s pardon.
Vicente Guerrero’s Presidential Achievements
The third theme is Vicente Guerrero’s deeds as president of the country. He became the second president of Mexico in 1829. One of the most outstanding achievements of his presidency was the abolition of slavery and the death penalty. The author of the video highlights the abolition of slavery due to its timing, as it was done even before Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it. Another innovation was the establishment of taxes for rich people.
Guerrero protected small businesses, which gave the author of the video reason to call him the champion of “not only the racially oppressed but also of the economically oppressed” (HomeTeam History, 2020, 1:53). Among his other decisions, the establishment of the council movement that gave peasants the opportunity to elect representatives without considering such factors as race, the fact property ownership, or literacy is mentioned.
Vicente Guerrero’s Assassination
The last part is dedicated to the events that led to the death of Vicente Guerrero. It analyzes the reasons that provoked Vicente’s betrayal and assassination. The author concludes that the main reason was the racial undercurrent in Mexico at that period.
It is stated that representatives of the Mexican elite who were European-oriented resisted the idea of natives or Afro-Mexicans getting more power. It was a serious concern because Guerrero’s politics focused on creating an equal society. The author claims that the idea of a person of humble origin who belonged to the African diaspora-making these changes instead of elites played a part in developing the concern mentioned above as well (HomeTeam History, 2020).
Conclusion
Finally, the author of the video concludes Vicente’s legacy and underlines the two most important achievements: the abolition of slavery and the contribution to making Mexican society more egalitarian.
Reference
HomeTeam History (2020). The Afro-Mexican president that liberated Mexico from Spain [Video]. YouTube. Web.