The Black Legend portrays Natives as victims who had been
brutally mistreated and the Spaniards as cold-blooded individuals striving for
conquest. Although Stern may negate this myth by emphasizing the importance of
economy and tribute that was important for not only the Spaniards although the
Natives as well. Stern also indicates, “Colonials raped women, commandeered the
labors of relatives for secondary tasks, and set impossible production quotas
to force mitayos to utilize the labors of their families” (Pg. 84) although
these conditions may be for economic benefits it is not morally right. The
natives had suffered and worked through harsh conditions and no economic
benefit is worth the sufferings they encountered through labor and their
work-force. While Stern may argue that the even Natives partook in these conditions
for their own gains it cannot neglect the fact that other Natives were victims
during this economical change. The Black Legend focuses on the mistreatment of
the Natives while Stern is able to justify by looking at both perspectives and benefits.
The black legend is that natives were powerless simpletons and the Spanish were nothing but cruel, heartless, conquerors. Sterns begins his book with a lengthy description of the complex relationships between familial groups and the ways society developed to deal with the vast range of environmental factors that influenced the agricultural landscape of the native peoples. (3-9) so the very beginning of the book should talk out of the readers mind that the natives were simple as they had ingenious methods of dealing with harsh conditions. Later we are introduced to the subjugation of the people under a native ruling class. Some natives make the conscious decision to join with the Spaniards in order to possibly rid themselves of the rulers. Stern even describes the encomendero Maldando's method of dealing with natives under his charge which seemed to be based on mutual aid. he is said to have retained food and redistributed it during times of famine.(33-40) This simple act shows that while many terrible things did happen to the Natives at the hands of the Spaniards, it could not be said that all of them were the bloodthirsty conquerors the black legend would have us believe they were.
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