Central America's Forgotten History Audiobook By Aviva Chomsky cover art

Central America's Forgotten History

Revolution, Violence, and the Roots of Migration

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Central America's Forgotten History

By: Aviva Chomsky
Narrated by: Aida Reluzco
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Restores the region’s fraught history of repression and resistance to popular consciousness and connects the United States’ interventions and influence to the influx of refugees seeking asylum today.

At the center of the current immigration debate are migrants from Central America fleeing poverty, corruption, and violence in search of refuge in the United States. In Central America’s Forgotten History, Aviva Chomsky answers the urgent question “How did we get here?” Centering the centuries-long intertwined histories of US expansion and Indigenous and Central American struggles against inequality and oppression, Chomsky highlights the pernicious cycle of colonial and neocolonial development policies that promote cultures of violence and forgetting without any accountability or restorative reparations.

Focusing on the valiant struggles for social and economic justice in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras, Chomsky restores these vivid and gripping events to popular consciousness. Tracing the roots of displacement and migration in Central America to the Spanish conquest and bringing us to the present day, she concludes that the more immediate roots of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras lie in the wars and in the US interventions of the 1980s and the peace accords of the 1990s that set the stage for neoliberalism in Central America.

Chomsky also examines how and why histories and memories are suppressed, and the impact of losing historical memory. Only by erasing history can we claim that Central American countries created their own poverty and violence, while the United States’ enjoyment and profit from their bananas, coffee, mining, clothing, and export of arms are simply unrelated curiosities. Americas Central America Emigration & Immigration Freedom & Security Human Rights Politics & Government Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Latin America Emotionally Gripping Thought-Provoking Central American History

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Editorial Review

Discrimination, exploitation, and violence are not new phenomena for Latino people. Central America has been living in the shadow of repressive powers for centuries, and Central America’s Forgotten History aims to shed light on that dark past.
In this era of human rights movements, raised voices, and self-identification, Aviva Chomsky’s Central America’s Forgotten History is a timely and poignant look at the history of oppression, racism, and violence inflicted on Central America. It also examines the way in which the Latino history of the United States has been conveniently erased and softened. In the mind of America, Central America has always been poor, impoverished, or full of danger and violence. Yet a selective mindset erases the impacts of conquests, expansion, colonization, and U.S. influence that have inflicted these negativities on Central America. With brutal honesty and cutthroat clarity, Chomsky tells the history of Central America. As an author, history professor, and coordinator of Latin American, Latino and Caribbean studies at Salem University, Chomsky brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to this work.
She compiles historical facts and stories from a number of countries and Latin American people, creating a full, bright, and beautiful portrait of Latin America, even as she sheds light on the harsh realities of Latino life. From analyzing the fear encompassed at the US-Mexico border to the Cuban Revolution, colonialism, economic policies, and the rise of Trump, nothing is left hidden as she seeks to bring the truth of history to the forefront. Chomsky spares no time for sympathies but forges on in her quest for truth and clarity. So much of history has been erased or forgotten, and it is her aim to remind America - and the world - of what really happened.
Latino narrator Aida Reluzco adds her own flair to this audiobook adaptation, emphasizing all the right moments with passion while still delivering a clear, fact-based reading. The result is a thorough historical account of Central American history without feeling stale or stagnant. This history is living, breathing, and powerful, making for an insightful and moving listen. —Audible Latino Editor

Thorough Historical Account • Investigative Approach • Well-done Historical Information • Chronological Organization

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Excellent accounting of the history and systemic issues that have plagued this region. Must read for anyone working or interested in helping these migrant children coming from Central America.

Enlightening

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The historical information was well done but the narrator really held it back. At times the narrator did the book a disservice by their over or under emphasis of words, bordering on sarcasm. Unfortunate.

Well intended

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It is good to understand history better. In order to be able to act. I liked the cronological order in the book

The cruel story

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Love this book and its investigative approach to the history of Central America. I thoroughly enjoy the breakdown of every country's unique history with the Spanish conquistadors and much later United States government involvement. Must read for any Central American that grew up in America and have limited knowledge of their own history (being of Central American deset myself I can attest).

Amazingly Insightful

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Informative but dry at times. It is well done, but I found it difficult to get through at times.

Informative but dry at times

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