In his book ‘Motherland: Dismounting the Black Legend from Bartolomé de las Casas to The Catalan Separatism’, Argentinian author Marcello Gullo Omodeo dismantles South America’s history from before the Spanish conquest (the rule of the Aztecs and Mayans) till present day.
By doing that, Omodeo is providing answers to many questions asked by his students and readers alike, especially why he is pro-Spanish rule when the whole world isn’t. But before diving into the book, it’s essential to understand the meaning of ‘The Black Legend or La Leyenda Negra’. Wikipedia defines it as: “a purported historiographical tendency which consists of anti-Spanish and anti-Catholic propaganda. Its proponents argue that its roots date back to the 16th century, when Spain's European rivals were seeking, by political and psychological means, to demonise the Spanish Empire, its people, and its culture, minimise Spanish discoveries and achievements, and counter its influence and power in world affairs”.
Omodeo explores different imperialist sources from which the Black Legend had started before expanding globally such as the French who published books with titles like ‘The Anti-Spanish’ by theologist Antione Arnauld (1594) where he describes ‘the insatiable avarice and cruelty of the Spanish in Latin America’ and the English who helped fuel insurgencies against Spanish rule in countries such as Venezuela and Argentina (their usual policy of divide and rule).
The book has 12 main chapters divided into subchapters that includes the history of the Spanish conquests from their arrival to South America till their departure through revolutions and civil wars and what caused them, how the Spanish developed South America, how the Black Legend started and still propagate through current education systems in Spain and South American countries and finally, the fight against the anti-Spanish feelings that many politicians and intellects adopted centuries back.
As evidence, the author compares the history of North America to that of South America during the conquest times. While Native Americans were killed in masses by the English and French, a royal decree from the Spanish court encouraged marriages to the natives to spread Catholicism, which also helped in preserving indigenous languages and culture till today.
Moreover, Spain sent its best educated men to help in building the new empire (except for Cervantes, who couldn’t leave as he was too precious to them).
As a summary, the author encourages the idea of Spain accepting more Hispanic immigrants as they’re culturally closer to the Spaniards than immigrants from other countries. But before doing that, he urges the Hispanics to reconsider their hostile feelings towards the Spaniards, which could only happen if the conquest history is rewritten correctly and fairly.
Although the book was an intensive read, it was very engaging and skillfully structured. The chapters I enjoyed most were about the hospitals and universities that the Spanish built a few years after their arrival - founded almost a century before North America.
Furthermore, how The Black Legend played a role in the rise of Catalan Separatism that Spain still suffers from nowadays.
The author Marcello Gullo Omodeo is an academic, analyst, and consultant of international relations. He’s the author of various books including: Argentina-Brazil: The Great Opportunity and Insubordination and Development: The Keys for Success and Failure of Nations.
I end this article with a quote that captures the spirit of the book by Argentinian writer and leader of the Socialist Party Manuel Ugarte (1875-1951): “No recrimination against Spain. We are her loving children and no other flag must be close to our heart than hers.”
RASHA AL RAISI
The writer is the author of The World According to Bahja
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