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Elvia Alvarado

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Don't Be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart: The Story of Elvia Alvarado Paperback – July 19, 1989

by Elvia Alvarado (Author), Medea Benjamin (Translator)

66 ratings

Part of: A Honduran Woman Speaks From the Heart (1 books)

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"Here is a voice seldom heard, the voice of Latin America's majority, those who bear the burdens of society. If we are to understand Honduras, Central America, or, for that matter, Latin America, we must listen attentively to this voice. It has much to teach us. It commands the future." --E. Bradford Burns, Professor of History, UCLA

Don’t be Afraid, Gringo is the award-winning oral history of Elvia Alvarado, a courageous campesina [peasant] activist in Honduras, the poorest country in Central America. Trained by the Catholic Church to organize women’s groups to combat malnutrition, Alvarado began to question why campesinos were malnourished to begin with. Her growing political awareness, her travels by foot, over the back roads of Honduras, and her conversations with people from all over the country have given her insights into the internal workings of her society that far surpass those of the majority of campesinos who have never ventured from their villages. Working as a campesino organizer, Alvarado has led dangerous land recovery actions in an effort to enforce the national land reform laws. As a result of these actions, she has been harassed, jailed, and tortured at the hands of the Honduran military.

Skillfully translated and edited by Medea Benjamin, an expert on Central America, Don’t Be Afraid, Gringo takes us into the heart of campesino struggle and political conflict in Honduras today.

Editorial Reviews

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"Here is a voice seldom heard, the voice of Latin America's majority, those who bear the burdens of society. If we are to understand Honduras, Central America, or, for that matter, Latin America, we must listen attentively to this voice. It has much to teach us. It commands the future." — E. Bradford Burns

"Elvia's story provides the reader with a perspective on Honduras--indeed, on all of Central America--that even the best reporting from the outside cannot offer." — Most Reverend John R. Quinn, Archbishop of San Francisco

"In the clearest of language, this bravest of humans, this courageous woman, Elvia Alvarado, tells the story of her life and the life of the people of Honduras. Read it and understand the struggle against tyranny of the poor. Read it and act." — Alice Walker

"So much of what we know about Central America is facts, figures, abstractions, political cant. No one can read this remarkable story without a total change of perception. We learn not only how Elvia organizes campesinos to recover rights that have been taken from them, but how our government interferes on the side of injustice--and what we can do about it." — Robert McAfee Brown

From the Back Cover

"Elvia Alvarado tells the story of her life and the life of the people of Honduras. Read it and understand the struggle against tyranny of the poor. Read it and act."--Alice Walker

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperPerennial (July 19, 1989)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 006097205X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060972059
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.47 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #147,091 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2 in Honduras History
- #18 in Historical Latin America Biographies
- #38 in Caribbean & Latin American Politics

Customer Reviews:
66 ratings

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Customers find the book well worth reading and appreciate its valuable insights into Honduran life.

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14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well worth reading and interesting, with one customer noting it is an easy read.

"...The story is both informative as a historical piece and captivating as a personal narrative of Elvia Alvarado's life...." Read more

"...hand knowledge of poverty to this degree, but I believe this is a good book (explanation) to try and understand why poverty still exists in some..." Read more

"correct book" Read more

"No flaws, brand new as mentioned. The book content itself was insightful. I enjoyed reading Elvia Alvarado's testimonio." Read more

13 customers mention "Insight"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides valuable insights into Honduran life, with one customer noting how it answered their lingering questions.

"...Gringo" bookmarks a crucial period in Honduras' history, and provides valuable insights that help us understand Central America better as a..." Read more

"...Other than that it is really an interesting account of a brave woman standing up for her rights. Well worth the read." Read more

"No flaws, brand new as mentioned. The book content itself was insightful. I enjoyed reading Elvia Alvarado's testimonio." Read more

"...It's an eye-opening and inspiring read which I would definitely recommend." Read more

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Benji Lenett
A Microscope into Honduras, its Institutions, and its People
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2022
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When most people see the word Honduras written on a page, they're often besieged by headlines and news bulletins about mass migration and dangers of crime surges wherever they go. But the history and prior context that has contributed to this migration is often seriously overlooked, and though the lens of Elvia, we see a side to Honduras that few here in the Western world are given the opportunity to.

The story is both informative as a historical piece and captivating as a personal narrative of Elvia Alvarado's life. The author took special note to make sure that this book is a complete reflection of her experiences and stories - using Elvia's words and Elvia's words alone - and creates a product with stunning clarity as a result. From the domestic norms of the campesinos to the fight and struggle for food and water, "Don't Be Afraid, Gringo" bookmarks a crucial period in Honduras' history, and provides valuable insights that help us understand Central America better as a whole.
I couldn't recommend this book enough if you're a history buff. It's a unique piece that separates itself from most texts of its kind, and is absolutely worth a read!

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J. head
Strange Title
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2008
Verified Purchase
A strange title for a book that sums up one of the problems of USA's intervention in Central America. Central American governments often apply their U.S. military aid to curtail any progressive social change and to reinforce their repressive government. Elvia Alvarado, a courageous Honduran woman that many would dismiss as simply a rabble-rouser is actually solving what many consider the main problem of the former banana republic countries. The small wealthy class owns most of the land to the extent that there is a large landless peasant "campesino" class. An agrarian reform law was passed in Honduras to lawfully award small sections of large unproductive estates to the campesinos to overcome this injustice in land ownership. The average campesino is ignorant of this law or their country's legal system. The situation really seems hopeless, but Elvia and selected leaders received training sponsored by the Catholic Church. The course trains them to organize the campesinos to demand their rights. The Campesino struggle is similar to the civil rights marches in the American South. They might be legally correct through a slow acting legal system, but they often meet the spontaneous violence of the local authorities before they gain legal access..
Other interesting points brought out by this book is the oppressive condition of women in campesino society. If a solid family structure is the building block of a healthy society then this is a failed society. Elvia's own story and others she alludes to demonstrates the disruption of family and the displacement of children brought about by beatings and live-in conditions offered women when no other alternative is available. I do not have any first hand knowledge of poverty to this degree, but I believe this is a good book (explanation) to try and understand why poverty still exists in some countries even though they have been the beneficiaries of large amounts of international aid. There was not too much of the text that dealt with "the Gringo" except to say that as the U.S. brought pressure to bear upon Nicaragua, repression by Honduran troops also ratcheted up. Other than that it is really an interesting account of a brave woman standing up for her rights. Well worth the read.

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Michael Roth
correct book
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
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correct book

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Christine
Flawless Quality & Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2021
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No flaws, brand new as mentioned. The book content itself was insightful. I enjoyed reading Elvia Alvarado's testimonio.

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Daisy
A Favorite
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2016
Verified Purchase
Because it's a testimonial and translation, this book is told in a very simple, straighforward way that a lot of people could probably read and understand easily. It's an eye-opening and inspiring read which I would definitely recommend.

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3 people found this helpful

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Elen
Great Book
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2011
Verified Purchase
Having lived in Honduras for almost two years, I have seen the poverty of which Elvia speaks. I also had an uncle who was an activist like Elvia. This book does a wonderful job at showing how difficult it is to rise above poverty in a third world nation and how unorganized and corrupt these governments are. The honesty of her words made it all too real.

I highly recommend this book! Current political situtations have changed since the publication of this book, so I don't recommend using it for research papers, etc.

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Bets
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2014
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Great book! awesome insight into Honduran life.

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S. Moler
Better Late Than Never
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2010
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When I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras from 1987-89, I wish I had read this book. Had I done so, I might have changed the way I did some of my work.

Don't Be Afraid, Gringo had just come out when I completed my training in May 1987. Had I been more persistent and read the book back then, I might have been a better volunteer and tried some different approaches other than the standard stuff. As a literacy promoter working on the North Coast and in the Aguan Valley, I worked with some of the same types of peasant cooperatives that are discussed in the book. I often didn't know intimately what these peasants were going through. Yes, I spent time in various cooperatives doing my literacy work. I'd chat with community leaders, maybe do some training or projects with the literacy teachers. But I never really got to the heart of the matter. This book took me there. It answered many of my lingering questions.

The book not only takes you inside the campesino movement, but also takes you deep inside the feelings, customs, and everyday struggles of the poorest peasants in Honduras. Many saw the more outspoken peasants as troublemakers, when in fact, all they wanted was a good meal to eat.

If you're thinking about traveling to Central America -- or you are planning to do work there -- this book is still very relevant and important. Though many changes have occurred in Honduras over the years, many things still remain the same.

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8 people found this helpful

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Don't Be Afraid, Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart: The Story of Elvia Alvarado Paperback – July 19, 1989

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