Black History Month Event

Black History Month Event

What was the event?

I received an invitation to attend a talk where UNICA hosted Melissa Cardoza in celebration of Black History Month. The event, termed ‘Honoring Black and Indigenous Resistance in Honduras’, was exciting to me as I am Human Rights and History student. The talk covered the struggles faced by black and indigenous communities in Central America. Melissa is a feminist and human rights activist that has worked extensively with other defenders of different aspects of human rights in Latin America and the US. Being of mixed afro-indigenous heritage, Melissa has had firsthand experience of the marginalization, especially experienced by women, LBGTQIA communities, working-class women afro-indigenous, and indigenous communities, amongst others.

The talk, while focusing on issues regarding human rights in the US, was pivoted around a book written by Melissa. The ’13 Colors of Honduran Resistance’ addresses the struggles that marginalized group of people in the Honduras face, and the human rights violations they encountered. After the coup de tat that ousted President Manuel, the resistance that followed has since seen to reforms that grant various rights to its people. The book shares the stories of 13 different women who met during the resistance and formed a bond made of determination to fight for the rights of their people..

What did you learn from it?

The entire event was held in Spanish, which required me to have a translator. Nonetheless, the passion with which Melissa spoke of her quests towards the human rights of marginalized communities was inspiring. I learned that at times, the very governments that should protect the rights of its people is the one that infringes on them. I also learned that the change that people want could only come from the people themselves. In speaking out and demanding their rights, the people of Honduras are slowly getting the much-deserved privileges they have been fighting for. It is evident from Melissa’s story that people can achieve much when they believe in their cause and work for it with unwavering determination.

Reference

Cardoza, M. (2011). 13 colores de la resistencia hondureña. San José, Costa Rica: Departamento Ecuménico de Investigaciones.