The Revolution I studied was the Gran Colombia revolution. The revolution was led by Simon Bolivar, and made the Republica de Colombia a free republic. Over the course of nearly twenty years, Bolivar got political control of Caracas, lost power, and ultimately took Venezuela and Ecuador from Spanish control. This revolution was not so much about a rift between races as it was about cultures coming together. Bolivar convinced his fellow South Americans to get rid of a common enemy; the Spanish. Spain controlled most of South America, but when the South Americans came together and realized that they could work as one to get rid of the enemy, they fought for and won their freedom.
A recent article by NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley reveal issues with race that occur in the world today. With the holidays approaching and celebrations occurring, Beardsley focuses on a particular Dutch tradition that has been quite a controversial topic these past few years. The article is about Dutch Christmas parades that include Santa Claus and his helper, Swarte Piete, also known as Black Pete. People dress up in blackface and march through the streets, an act that is viewed as extremely racist in the United States. Some debate that this act is blatantly racist, while others say Pete is a beloved holiday tradition that is in no way racist. I think that this article shows that race continues to affect national identity, because although Black Pete is a holiday tradition, his character is very racist. I think that there are better ways to celebrate the holidays, and while there are some who may not view it as racist or offensive there are ways to fix race issues and change certain problems.
Beardsley, Eleanor. "Santa's Black-Faced Helpers Are Under Fire In The Netherlands." NPR.org. 1 Dec. 2014. Web. 1 Dec. 2014. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/12/01/367704573/santas-black-faced-helpers-are-under-fire-in-the-netherlands>.
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