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    A large proportion of immigrants in the Kingston area are Kekchi — indigenous Mayan people from rural Guatemala. If you’d like to know more about the country’s culture and history, here are some books recommended by UIDN case manager, Daniel Woodham, followed by some sources for movies.

    Books

    • Bitter Fruit: The Story of the American Coup in Guatemala by Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer
    • I, Rigoberta Menchu, autobiography of a rural organizer and human rights activist
    • Men of Maize, a novel by Miguel Angel Asturias, a Nobel Prize winner
    • Open Veins of Latin America by Eduardo Galeano
    • Popol Vuh, sometimes called the Mayan bible, is originally from the 16th century. Shown here is the cover for a retelling published by Restless Books in 2020. It features a translation by Latin American scholar Ilan Stavans, gorgeous illustrations by Salvadoran artist Gabriela Larios, and an introduction by Mexican author, diplomat, and activist Homero Aridjis.

    Movies

    Teaching Central America, a project of Teaching for Change, has an extensive list of films about Central America organized by country. Most listings include trailers or links for streaming. The list for Guatemala includes 10 movies for high school students and adults.

    The Worker Justice Center has created a series of short videos that share the powerful stories of Yesenia, Elvis, and Sergio. Take a look to learn more about the challenges facing immigrant workers and the ways people are fighting back against workplace exploitation and abuse.
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Book cover, Popol Vuh, a retelling of the Maya creation myth Latin American scholar Ilan Stavans; illustrated by Salvadoran artist Gabriela Larios; and introduced by author, diplomat, and activist, Homero Aridjis.