Essay On Rigoberta Menchu

Rigoberta Menchu is a humans rights and activist from Guatemala. She was born
on January 9th, 1959.When she was a young girl, her father and brother, along with
others, were captured, tortured, and killed by security forces which had invaded a
spanish embassy. Her mother was arrested, then raped and killed. Her father was
accused of killing many people, including a local plantation owner and her family was
accused with taking part in guerrilla activities. Due to these unfortunate events, in the
same year she joined the CUC (Committee of the Peasant Union), 1979.
Young Menchu authored two books titled “I, Rigoberta Menchu” and “Crossing
Borders”. Her stories were first told by word of mouth by Menchu herself to Elizabeth
Burgos-Debray who helped

her to record her tales on a voice recorder that would then
be used to create her first book. In 1992, she became the youngest winner of a Nobel
Peace Prize. These astounding books have been translated into seven different
languages and spread throughout the world where they are loved dearly.
Menchu submerged herself into the depths of Guatemalan issues in an attempt
to improve the world. She assisted in social reform activities through the Catholic
Church and when she was still a teenager she became prominent in the women’s rights
movements. In September 2007, Menchú stood as a viable presidential candidate for
her native country of Guatemala, running with the support of the Encounter for
Guatemala party.

Menchu served as an irreplaceable motivation after the war, as she helped
everyone that she could. By teaching herself multiple native mayan languages, she was
able to relate more closely to those whom she assisted in recovery from the tragedies

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that befell their families. “She joined the radical 31st of January Popular Front, in which
her contribution chiefly consisted of educating the Indian peasant population in
resistance to massive military oppression.” (1992, 1992). Due to her lovable nature and
willingness to extend compassion, she was quickly adopted by the world and honored
by most. She was looked up to and spoke press conferences in order to better convey
her message of sincerity.
Menchu entered into hiding in Guatemala in 1981 until she was able to escape to
Mexico later that year. She was then chased to France, only to return to her beloved
Guatemala in 1994. During her time in exile, she would receive death threats if she ever
tried to return to her country. Rigoberta had a passion for the mayan culture and people
and her exile could not put put the fire that she had begun. She is a huge inspiration

to
many people across the world today, and will forever be known for her bravery,
intelligence and caring heart.