¡VIVA ZAPATA! ¡TIERRA Y LIBERTAD!

A CENTURY AFTER THE END OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION, REVOLUTIONARY EMILIANO ZAPATA STILL INSPIRES POLITICAL REFORM AND JUSTICE.

-  SALOMÉ HERNÁNDEZ

In 1909, at the age of 30, Emiliano Zapata was elected village chief of his native Anenecuilco, a village in Mexico’s state of Morelos. Zapata was highly regarded by his community for his prowess as a vaquero, and in his rise to fame and power as a revolutionary, he became identified by his sugarloaf sombrero and charro style.

– ALL IMAGES COURTESY TRUE WEST ARCHIVES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED–

The iconic pictures of the Mexican soldier and his soldadera wearing bandoliers embody the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910 south of our border. It ended ten years later, on November 30, 1920, after many military victories and political maneuvers, with the investiture of President Álvaro Obregón. But in September 1926, the New York Times reported that the Yaqui Indians initiated one of its last volleys, “kidnapping” Obregón on a train trip to Sonora. They had supported his revolutionary battles, but they now insisted he keep his promises to protect their land. Promises were made, but again Obregón fell short. Now, back to the revolution, what followed the initial proclamation were twists and turns that eventually pitted revolutionary against revolutionary: 10 long years with coups, civil wars, battles, assassinations and quite a few presidents.

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