Reality and Freedom

Jimmy Santiago Baca writes his life story in the book Working in the Dark; his life story full of hopes and troubles, love and scorn. He tells of his past and heritage and of the time that he leaves it behind to one day find it again. He shows subtly how today is the same as when the colonists first arrived about four centuries ago, as well as how the natives had the right idea of how to live and stay free. He has a connection as an American, but also as a Chicano and a Native American, and writes about the treatment, non-profit, and "illegality" within all of the cultural interactions, getting back into balance, uncovering the hidden truths, and speaking in resistance.

Baca himself went through dehumanization all throughout his life. In the orphanage, he was beaten by a nun, just because during breakfast he saw a glimpse of a woman he thought was his mother and wanted to know for sure. He was overlooked when the kids had the chance to learn to play the piano because the boys chosen "were cleaner, neater, and better behaved. They combed their hair, and did their chores with prompt obedience. ... [They] had the right look and demeanor for the nuns to show off to the visitors who would come to recitals" (Baca 85). Later in life, he was beaten by Hispanic cops so badly he had to go to a hospital, just because he wouldn't let them pat him down and take his fingerprints. The only reason that Jimmy Baca would have to take the pat down or have his fingerprints taken is if the cops had a reasonable suspicion to do so or if the cops had a warrant saying so (ActivistRights.org.au). In one of the times that he was stuck in prison, this time because he was falsely accused of drug trafficking with the real drug trafficker as a witness, two detectives brought in a drunk man and kneed him, laughing. Other problems happening in the prison include underground solitary confinement from not complying to work for the prison (this is during to time when he was jailed on false accusation and then made into a trustee), threats, intimidation, guards randomly shooting to break up a group (a story he heard from a blind Chicano youth) and being drugged after getting sent to isolation (again because he refused to work and they sent cons to "coerce" him). Native Americans went through the Trail of Tears, slavery when the colonists first arrived, and relocation to a small reservation. In Even the Rain, thirteen natives, including the leader, were burned on crucifixes and it is a scene showing a part of Columbus' colonization (the act of a group of people establishing a new settlement subject to or connected with the parent nation (Dictionary.com)) of America. All that Jimmy Santiago Baca went through was because he is and was defined by his color, his race and what society defines him, in general, to be. It was also against the law to use enough force to put Baca in the hospital, according to Section 462A of the Crimes Act 1958 as pointed out by ActivistRights.org.au that quotes the section. It is the same for the Native Americans, they are and were different from the Europeans and Anglos so therefore they are treated like dirt; just as Judy Kuhn as Pocahontas sings "You think the only people who are people/ Are the people who look and think like you..."

Now Disney shows the "bright" side of the story, but there is still the slavery that the natives were put through. In Even the Rain there is the scene for the Columbus film where exploitation, "selfish utilization" (Dictionary.com), was used by Columbus and his men to get the natives to bring them gold - unless the natives wanted to lose a limb, and later in the colonization phase, natives were sold to out of country plantations or pressed into domestic service because of clashing with the colonists (Onion). For Baca, although not as a slave he still earned next to nothing while the Anglo kids work half as hard and as long as he has and get promoted (Baca 81). Still today there are people around the world and even in our own country, in our own state, where people get less than what they deserve. In my business, class I recently learned that people are being paid based on their performance, but this doesn't help many people because there are still those who take advantage of others because of either higher education, wealth or connections, and those at the bottom can do nothing about it, except to try for another job.