In Stern's analysis of Toledo's reforms
for a capitalist economy, the colonials and native elite exploited
the natives for their labor. The mitayos' forced labor under harsh
conditions, as seen in the mines of Castrovirreyna offer support of
the Black Legend. Colonials raped women and used mitayos' families
for labor and other tasks. (p. 84) The new rotation system often
caused overlapping of mitayos rotation terms and would have to wait
for payment before they could return home to their own land and
fields. The reforms also made it difficult for mitayos to manage
their own fields during the absence and affected their
self-sufficiency. The subordination of the natives due to the reforms
and the greed of the encomenderos in order to maintain this economic
society shows Stern's support of the Black Legend.
Not only do we see evidence of the
Black Legend in the dynamic of the capitalist economy, we can see it
in the ways the colonials showed their dominance in society. “Noise,
threats, bribes, violence, sabotage, shows of prestige, even rituals
of domination – all constituted regular, necessary part of
exploitative relationships,” (p. 102). Many native laborers would
not comply with the mita and would be jailed. In some situations,
such as the hanging of ten Yauyos Indians in Ocopampa ordered by a
judge, violent discipline was necessary in order to maintain these
colonial relationships. (p. 104)
The dynamic of the society based upon a
capitalist economy in the Huamanga region certainly supports the
Black Legend in Stern's argument from the harsh conditions, unfair
legality towards the natives, and violent acts to maintain colonial
dominance.
I could not agree with Caitlin's argument more. I feel that the example of forced labor of the mita is a strong one. Pg. 84 drives home an understanding that these men were at the level of slaves. With exhausting hours and demanding quotas needed to be met their lives were less than ideal. For the laborers that were sent to mine, especially mercury, is a death sentence. Knowing how dangerous mercury is, im sure that many of these workers grew sick and died because of the substance. Many workers would have gone blind and loose taste since mercury poisoning effects the sensory nerves first. These affects would last long after their time was up and would hurt them, and their families when they returned to try to work their own land again. I feel that Stern does a good job letting us understand that this interaction between Native and Spanish populations was to the detriment of the Indians, supporting the black legend.
ReplyDeleteCaitlin points out the mistreatment and violence used by the colonials to control their workers as support of the black legend as well. This is where the Black Legend as we know it came from. The colonists mistreatment and use of violence against the natives shows us the true nature of their relationship. That the colonists will use and beat the natives to support their causes, whether that be control of an area, use in mines or fields, or anything else the colonists saw fit. This is a huge driving force of the Black Legend since the mistreatment of the natives was used to show colonial dominance as well as expanding their capitalist aims.