Modern Mayan Culture

The Mayan culture in my experience has been stereotyped as inferior and unable to adapt to modern conditions.   The mestizo and Spanish populations have for the most part isolated the native population from participation in the modern economy and social classes, seemingly leaving them left to exist in the realm of poverty and an almost slave-labor class.   The plight of the population is horrible.  The concept of equal opportunity, where as skill, intelligence and character are determined by the individual not by the ethnicity of a group of people seems to need to be fought for in modern day Meso-America.   The concept of individuality and equal opportunity if embraced, as it has been in the United States, might help to break the barriers of ethnic stereotypes in Mexico and Central America.

From an anthropological point of view the term “Race” is a misnomer, I prefer to look at the different ethnicities or local identities.   Certainly the exclusion of particular ethnicities is an aspect of human culture that has reigned supreme since civilization was founded.   The labeling of other ethnicities and cultures as inferior, weak or barbaric was typically a precursor to rationalization for removing an indigenous culture from their native lands often leading to war, slavery and genocide.    In the modern day society, especially in the United States and Europe there has been a movement to separate ethnic stereotypes allowing for equal opportunity; both socially and economically; based upon the individuals character and motivation.   Although there are still prejudices among the US population its prevalence is dissipating and such views are typically shunned by the majority of the population.  

Although I do believe in maintaining and recognizing an individual’s ethnic identity, as it can be a source of pride and community coalescence, I believe that the extreme emphasis on an individual culture within our society can be quite detrimental.     Ethnic tensions can arise when there are no shared values or goals for making the society better.   In some instance it seems as if identification of belonging to one ethnicity or another has started to preempt the individual skill, moral fiber and character being replaced with an ethnic identity which creates divisiveness and hostility.  There is a fine balance between the recognition and celebration of ethnicity and the stigmatizing of ethnic groups in a negative fashion dis-allowing equal opportunity in our diverse society.

The Yucatan Peninsula, Art History Blog 1

In early 2001 I spent nearly two weeks in the Yucatan Peninsula exploring the ancient ruins strewn throughout the area.  I explored the popular, Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum as well as some less well known pyramids and cenotes (underground rivers).   While watching National Geographic documentaries of the area, the true impressive nature of the past native cultures is not felt until you physically visit the areas.  Chichen Itza is a magnificent monument that espouses the sheer power of the culture that built the temples.   Chichen Itza itself when you walk onto the ground is powerful and inspiring; the recognition that the cultures that built these massive temples were much more advanced then modern society grants them.   The complex social, economic and political infrastructure that would be needed in order to build such monuments sets in quickly.   Not only the architectural significant but the shear man power and time to build the great pyramids on the Yucatán peninsula are breath taking.  

The reverence for the natural process surround the Mayans in depicted in their monuments and statues, they understood they were simply inhabitants of their land not the whole owners of it.   Their heavy reliance and deep religious beliefs in natural deities also brought out about the sinister nature of mankind with stained sacrificial altars still exhibiting the massive bloodshed that took place.   

I was greatly saddened though as I drove my rental jeep throughout the Yucatan of how poverty and the reverence for nature by modern day Mayans has seemed to have passed.   At the time the teaching, speaking, reading and writing of the Mayan language was a crime and the living conditions of the natives was putrid at best.    The culture that seems to have praised their natural world in their past today sees their villages and roadsides littered with an abundance of plastic bottles and raw trash.   The plight of the local indigenous population of the Yucatan is a sad sight which at times took precedence over the impressive monuments of their distant culture.    

Although in my two weeks in the Yucatan p3eninsula I was somewhat shocked by the living conditions and state of the environment, I was amazed by the resilience and continued Mayan culture that some of the locals exhibit,  stepping away from the more tourist centered areas I found a rich culture that still adheres to many of the Mayan beliefs.  I was able to witness several young men rehearsing for a ceremony dressed in Mayan war garb, complete with body paint, headdresses and clothing adorned with feathers.   It is a shame that the Mexican government insists on suppressing their distant past as it is should be a source of great national pride which if embraced may be a source of new invigoration and economic spirit which can help bring the impoverished area new hope bringing from the shadows a great tradition of culture and art that has been suppressed since the Mayan culture faded into history.