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Latin American Studies

Latin America, an important region where different cultures syncretize in order to have a common denominator, will be the main focus of this essay. Watching the documentary “The Devil’s Miners” brought many memories back to me which, being a Latin American citizen, made me realize even more how two sides of the same coin can be perceived. It is true that many outsiders see the region as an exotic paradise, a land to be exploited. Nevertheless, its core is completely different. Factors such as: corruption, poverty and thus access to education, shelter, food and others have hindered the possibility of progress.

As we saw in “The Devil’s Miners” young Bolivian kids were working in extremely unbearable conditions inside the mines. These kids have to leave everything, from education to the joyful experience of just being children. Being the oldest of their families, they are considered the economic pillars. Most of these kids have the same story: they do not count with a paternal figure who can support them; and, having a family integrated by numerous members, their help is required for their subsistence.

This is a reality that many poor kids from the Latin American region have to live. They wake up in the morning eager to go to school, yet they cannot go, food needs to be placed on the table. Poverty is one of the main reasons why this region is not able to develop. It is shocking that children are required to work day and night, sometimes 24 hours in a row, because of the radical conditions they are living in: surviving until the next morning.

One particular scene of the documentary that called my attention was their religious beliefs. Even though these families have nothing but their spiritual capital, almost all of them were completely devoted to their religion. In this point questions arose in my mind: Is religion what it is keeping them alive? Until a certain extension, many would say that this is what bonds the community and keep it together. On the...