Una Historia Rebelde: Corridos and the Sixties

For México, the sixties became a decade of social movements, modernization attempts, and a golden age for the middle class. Yet, historians often overlook the sixties because it is seen merely as a period of economic growth. However, many sources that are seldom analyzed portray a different history of México. This project utilizes corridos, or narrative ballads, as primary sources to depict a history of rural México during the sixties. The corridos portray the economic struggles, land appropriation, and the deprivation of campesinos’ basic rights throughout Mexico. These corridos and other alternative sources recount a history of the underprivileged that is often not told. For the project, corridos are translated into English, analyzed and historically interpreted. This project will contribute to the history of the sixties and demonstrate the importance of alternative primary sources.