The Mayans had such complex syllabic glyphs that it has taken linguist experts over 100 years to crack the code. For further information on this quest, there is an amazing documentary called "Breaking the Maya Code" which is available through Night Fire Films.
After the Spanish arrived, all of the MesoAmerican scribes were forced by the Catholic church to give up their old glyphic writing in favor of the English Roman alphabet - which they did, just using more recognizable letters to continue writing in their own language.
What does all this ancient history have to do with today? Many times I hear ESL teachers in public high schools complaining that Hispanic students seem to suffer from not growing up in an environment which values learning, specifically literacy. However, it is culturally untrue! If the same tough kids who are painting their Low Riders with Mayan temple depictions are reminded that their ancestors were not just fearless warriors, but also literate artists and thinkers, it might make a real difference in their attitude.
It is the Spanish Conquistadores and Friars who, sadly, burned MesoAmerican books in an attempt to crush the "devil worship". They had every reason to keep the Native peoples illiterate and powerless against Spanish government and rule.
Perhaps with more emphasis placed on the scholarly aspect of their ancestors, urban Chicano students might take reading, and school, more seriously. They might begin to realize that acquiring knowledge in and of itself is an act of rebellion.
Good point BlancaChicana! There's definitely a lot to learn about / from the original peoples of the Americas!
ReplyDeleteYou made an excellent point!
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