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My name is Rachel Sherman and I am a junior at Loyola Marymount University. I’m a political science and Chicana/o studies double major. I chose to focus on Comandante Ramona because I admire her courage and strength as a revolutionary figure, especially in a country dominated by patriarchy such as Mexico. Before beginning this project, every time I learned about the Zapatista uprising, I would often hear Subcomandante Marcos’s name mentioned more than anyone else, more so than Comandante Ramona. I realized that this unbalance is echoed throughout history, with most historical events being told in a narrative where male figures are gloried and commemorated, leaving prominent female figures to be less recognized. Therefore, I chose Comandante Ramona because I wanted to share her story that is oftentimes overlooked.

This website focuses on Chicana and Latina writers, activists, and artists in the U.S., and although Comandante Ramona focused her revolutionary efforts in Mexico, her activism nonetheless involved U.S. politics and imperialism. Therefore, although Comandante Ramona’s work was not based in the U.S., I believe that her and the Zapatistas’ activism in Mexico is pertinent to U.S. history and its historically long relationship with Mexico. The Zapatista uprising was sparked by the passing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was signed by Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., and solidified U.S. economic control in Mexico. Living in Mexico, a country that already marginalized indigenous peoples, the Zapatistas fought against further subjugation by U.S. imperialist laws. Apart from the connection between Comandante Ramona’s activism and Mexico’s historical relationship to the U.S., Comandate Ramona is also an inspiring female figure for Chicanas/os and Latina/os in the U.S. because she fought against the same U.S. powers that marginalize people of color abroad and at home.