Resources

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News Sources   |   History  |  Activism |  Lessons | Podcasts | Current Events | Books | Films

News Sources

Below are key sources to keep abreast of current news from Central America. 

Contra Corriente is a bilingual "digital journalism site which covers the on-the-ground reality of what is happening in Honduras and Central America . . .  with content which helps us to change reality by telling it, analyzing it, and making those in power uncomfortable."


Democracy Now! news archives on El SalvadorHondurasGuatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.

The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA), founded in 1966, provides information and analysis on Latin America.

Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) promotes human rights, democracy, and social justice in Latin America and the Caribbean.

A regularly updated collection of articles on current events in Central America and Central American immigration. These include stories about the impact on water of gold-mining in El Salvador, myths about refugees, the drug wars, and the situation in Honduras when vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine was there. See full list.

The Latino Media Collective is a grassroots Latino public-affairs program that airs on Pacifica station WPFW 89.3fm in Washington DC. From the biggest countries in South America to the smallest enclaves in Central America and the Caribbean, no issue or movement for social justice is too small to be spotlighted on the Latino Media Collective.


History

Central American Historical and Ancestral Society of California. This website showcases Central American related historical documents, artifacts, and photographs with a particular emphasis on the impact of Central Americans on California.

When We Were Young There Was a War. This interactive website enlightens and engages students as they learn about the armed conflicts and their aftermaths in El Salvador and Guatemala through the poignant personal stories of Central American adults revisiting their wartime childhoods.

Destiny’s Children: A Legacy of War and Gangs. Powerful photo essays by Donna DeCesare follow the lives of four young people and their families as they deal with the impact of war, gangs, and incarceration.

The Sandino Rebellion: A Documentary History. An open-access digital archive of the Sandino Rebellion in Nicaragua, 1927-1934.

Unfinished Sentences Testimony Archive. This archive is composed of oral histories shared by 48 people who were residents of the community of Arcatao, in the department of Chalatenango, El Salvador, during the period of the Salvadoran civil war. 

When Corruption is the Operating System: The Case of Honduras. In some five dozen countries worldwide, corruption can no longer be understood as merely the iniquitous doings of individuals. Rather, it is the operating system of sophisticated networks that cross sectoral and national boundaries in their drive to maximize returns for their members. Honduras offers a prime example of such intertwined, or “integrated,” transnational kleptocratic networks. 

Museo de la Palabra y la Imagen. Museum of the Word and the Image, MUPI, is a citizen initiative dedicated to the investigation, rescue, preservation and diffusion of the historical and cultural heritage of El Salvador.

The Right to Grow Old: Honduran Displacement in Mexico. Honduran writer and photographer who documents the stories of Honduran migrants in their journey to the Mexico-U.S. border in an effort to show their humanity. Please note that some content contains violence and sensitive topics for mature audiences.


Activism

CISPES is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the Salvadoran people’s struggle for self-determination and social and economic justice.

Witness for Peace is a politically independent, nationwide grassroots organization of people whose mission is to support peace, justice and sustainable economies in the Americas.

Guatemala Commission on Human Rights monitors, documents, and reports on the human rights situation in Guatemala, advocates for survivors of human rights abuses in Guatemala, and works toward positive, systemic change.

SHARE El Salvador strengthens solidarity with and among the Salvadoran people in El Salvador and the United States in the struggle for economic sustainability, justice, and human and civil rights.

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The Latin American Working Group connects with activists across the United States and offers tools that they need to expand their ability to influence U.S. foreign policy.


Lessons

These websites offer lessons for teaching about Central America. We have not reviewed nor field tested them. Let us know if you use any of the lessons and your feedback.

Explorers, Traders, and Immigrants offers lessons on the cultural and social effects of the global commodity trade.

Living Maya Time: Sun, Corn, and Calendar: This website produced by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) provides lessons and resources to guide the teaching of Mayan cultural concepts, measurement systems, and scientific-spiritual thought. Resources from "Living Maya Time" are a rich addition to math and science classrooms interested in providing diverse perspectives and innovations from the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.


Podcasts

Mexican Officials Attempt to Stop Migrant Caravan, Indicative of U.S. Pressure on Mexico. In this short episode of "The Takeaway", coverage is given on a migrant caravan that has traveled through El Salvador and Honduras with the goal of reaching the U.S.-Mexico border. However, one of the many obstacles faced by the caravan is the Mexican National Guard. The episode questions the role that Mexico plays in enforcing the United States' immigration policies by proxy. This resource assumes viewers have some knowledge around the Mexican migration politics. If students are new to the topic, it is recommended that the podcast is supplemented with introductory articles on immigration that can be found in the Current Events section. Aired 1/22/20.

Throughline "There will be bananas." Throughline is a podcast dedicated to exploring the connections between the past and present. In this episode, "There Will Be Bananas," hosts Ramtin Arablouei and Rund Abdelfatah unearth the troubling history of how bananas became a staple fruit in the U.S. diet. The episode is divided into three parts. First, it follows the life of Minor Cooper Keith and his ruthless ambition to build a railroad in the Costa Rican rainforest. Second, it teaches listeners how the banana went from a taboo fruit to a common household food. Third, light is shed on the relationship between United Fruit Company and Latin American governments, hence the title, 'banana republics.' Aired 1/9/2020.

The 1954 Guatemalan Coup Part 2. Part 2 of the podcast goes in depth about the involvement of the United Fruit Company and conflict of interests that were supported by the CIA. It is highly recommended that The 1954 Guatemalan Coup Part 1 is played first to make sense of this episode. Aired 9/11/19.

The 1954 Guatemalan Coup Part 1. If you're looking for a history lesson on the overthrow of Guatemala's democratically elected government in 1954, this part 1 of the podcast is a great supplement to understand the historical context of the United States's foreign policy, such as Sphere of Influence and Good Neighbor frameworks. This podcast does an excellent job of providing context for anyone that is new to Guatemala's history. Aired 9/9/19.

Climate Change Meets the U.S. Border Crisis. This episode of Trumpcast focuses on how climate change is a push factor in people's decision to migrate by educating its audience on how weather patterns makes people more vulnerable economically. As the issue of climate change threatens the world, the theme of climate refugees is one that continues to be largely unexplored. This episode is friendly to all audiences, regardless of content knowledge on the topic. Aired 4/13/2019.

Archbishop Oscar Romero. In this short episode, the murder of Oscar Romero is discussed in a n interview with a journalist who witnessed his death. Beyond his death, the legacy that Romero left behind is talked about with the consecration of a saint status. It is recommended that this podcast be accompanied with additional reading or viewing of the film Romero. Aired 10/12/18.