The Historian as Curandera Study Notes

Quote: "Until lions write books, history will always glorify the hunter." - South African proverb.
This essay discusses the role of historians as curanderas, focusing on how colonization affects historical narratives and identities.

Colonizing powers often disrupt the sense of history of dominated groups by controlling their past.
- Example: The English burning Irish harps to eliminate opposition media and collective memory.
- Example: Burning of Mayan codices targeted cultural identity and self-awareness.
Suppression of language and culture among enslaved people reflects attempts to control identity.
Colonial powers often aim to disrupt the historical transmission of culture to the young, as seen in the forced assimilation of Native American and Aboriginal children.

A significant part of colonial domination is creating an imperial version of history that justifies oppression.
- Imperial history presents oppression as natural and inherent, delegitimizing the struggles of the oppressed.
Purpose of official history: To rationalize and normalizing the status quo of power imbalances.
Historical identities provide a counter-narrative that recounts oppression as a consequence of specific choices and events, not as natural law.

Historians should aim to restore identity for the dehistoricized.
- Objective: Reveal connections between oppressed peoples and their histories, mechanisms of power, and diverse forms of resistance.
Eduardo Galeano's quote emphasizes the importance of historical awareness for collective empowerment: "What process of change can move a people that does not know who it is, nor where it came from?"

History is shaped by our contemporary needs and serves to explain current relationships.
The debates around the 1992 quincentennial of Columbus’s arrival illustrate how history can provoke varying perspectives based on identity and current societal issues.

All historians possess subjective points of view; storytelling is inherently biased.
Curandera historians acknowledge intent and partisanship in their historical narratives.
The author used personal narratives to frame Puerto Rican history through the lives of women, aiming to shift historical self-perceptions among Puerto Rican women.

Definition: Medicinal histories aim to provide healing narratives that restore identity and humanity to traumatized communities.
The focus is on trauma recovery rather than the mere accumulation of historical facts.

Seek out and illuminate neglected narratives, especially those of marginalized groups (e.g., women, people of color).
Example: History framed through the experiences of diverse Puerto Rican women, emphasizing their roles and stories.

Key Question: How does centering women in history alter questions and processes of understanding?
Exploring female influence in Puerto Rican history may reveal ongoing impacts of indigenous culture beyond recorded events.

Challenge and debunk harmful myths foundational to imperial histories, including:
- Erasure of African influences in Puerto Rican history.
- Misrepresentations of cultural purity.

Acknowledge and document the lack of evidence in histories of the disenfranchised, allowing for a nuanced narrative.
Use contextual descriptions to illustrate missing perspectives, such as indigenous women brought to Puerto Rico.

Speculative questioning (e.g., "What if?") can inspire alternative interpretations of historical events, promoting deeper analysis.
Example: Reevaluation of the story of Guanina to emphasize her intelligence and agency in the face of colonization.

Relying too heavily on written records can obscure unrecovered experiences and knowledge. Historical evidence must be approached critically, with recognition of biases.

Resist narratives that depict oppressed communities solely as victims. Highlight agency and resistance in various forms.

Recognize the multifaceted nature of historical figures; they are not exclusively heroic or villainous. Understanding contradictions reveals deeper truths about human behavior.

Unearth hidden dynamics of power within oppressed communities and across societal structures.
Example: Historical analysis of Puerto Rican labor reveals complications of elite versus poor relationships.

Use specific names and stories to make the experiences of disenfranchised individuals tangible and relatable.

Events in history should be examined within their social and historical contexts, emphasizing group efforts over individual heroics.

Ensure that histories reflect interconnectedness, acknowledging that events are part of a broader global picture.

Present historical findings in accessible formats for the communities they represent, ensuring the work reaches those who need it most.

Historians should engage personally with their work to maintain authenticity and connection.

Emphasize curiosity and connections across disciplines, geography, and historical periods, breaking down artificial barriers imposed by conventional academia.

The role of historians addresses the need to rectify historical gaps for the purpose of social justice and healing. The curandera historian aims to empower through storytelling and critical interrogation of narratives, strengthening communal identity and future possibilities.