Storytelling has always been a source of knowledge and understanding for various generations. It is a device used to navigate the ever expanding world so that borders can be established. Storytelling establishes boundaries between what one should and should not do, specifically in the case of Latin American culture where storytelling is a means of safety and certainty to avoid unwanted crime and violence. The act of telling a story not only creates insight and construction of knowledge about the present, but also gives many a certainty about how to act within Latin America. “When I Wear My Alligator Boots”, written by Shaylih Muehlmann, “The Land of Open Graves”, written by Jason De León, and “El Salvador in the Aftermath of Peace: Crime,
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The device of storytelling is a powerful tool that Muehlmann, De León, and Moodie use effectively to not just paint pictures but convey emotional trauma and understanding to readers. There is a dominant narrative that is linked within all three of these books that speaks about the lives and experiences of many in Latin America as a struggle for mobility. In Muehlmann’s, “When I Wear My Alligator Boots,” there is a struggle for the class mobility in which the poor stay poor and the rich remain rich, and in the slight chance of upward mobility of class it is always surrounded by illegal trade and violence. Moreover, in James De León’s “The Land of Open Graves,” there is a lack of mobility for migrants to cross over into the United States since the ‘Prevention Through Deterrence’ policy is used as a killing machine on migrants looking for safety and a better life. Lastly, when looking at Moodie’s “El Salvador in the Aftermath of Peace: Crime, Uncertainty, and the Transition to Democracy,” there arises a lack of mobility for El Salvador to transition into the modern world, which in return, creates uncertainty and statements about post-war era being worse than the war. Through these three narratives, it is evident that life for many in Latin America is governed on the basis of lack of mobility, as many try to create better lives for their future and families, as their current livelihood is failing to provide, resulting in harsh experiences linked to crime and
The device of storytelling is a powerful tool that Muehlmann, De León, and Moodie use effectively to not just paint pictures but convey emotional trauma and understanding to readers. There is a dominant narrative that is linked within all three of these books that speaks about the lives and experiences of many in Latin America as a struggle for mobility. In Muehlmann’s, “When I Wear My Alligator Boots,” there is a struggle for the class mobility in which the poor stay poor and the rich remain rich, and in the slight chance of upward mobility of class it is always surrounded by illegal trade and violence. Moreover, in James De León’s “The Land of Open Graves,” there is a lack of mobility for migrants to cross over into the United States since the ‘Prevention Through Deterrence’ policy is used as a killing machine on migrants looking for safety and a better life. Lastly, when looking at Moodie’s “El Salvador in the Aftermath of Peace: Crime, Uncertainty, and the Transition to Democracy,” there arises a lack of mobility for El Salvador to transition into the modern world, which in return, creates uncertainty and statements about post-war era being worse than the war. Through these three narratives, it is evident that life for many in Latin America is governed on the basis of lack of mobility, as many try to create better lives for their future and families, as their current livelihood is failing to provide, resulting in harsh experiences linked to crime and