The civil rights leader Cabeza de Vaca

Gustavo Quintero
English 48A
September 28, 2007
Journal #3

Quote:
"...I overtook four of them on their horses. They were dumbfounded at the sight of me, strangely undressed and in the company with Indians. They just stood staring for a long time, not thinking to hail me or come closer to ask questions."


Summary:
At this point in de Vaca's journey he is in search of the Christian explorers that are believed to have found their way to the land that he is on. Along with him de Vaca brings along Castillo and Dorantes. They find the men on horse and tell them to bring the party to their captain. Their captain is Diego de Alcaraz.

Response:
De Vaca begins his life changing experience as a passenger on Narvaez's expedition to Florida as a provost marshall and treasurer. After many wrong turns and unfavorable weather, the expedition lands on the coast of Florida. Here they are met by hostile Native Americans who give them signs that they are not wanted anywhere near them. Disillusioned with how poorly his expedition is going Narvaez makes barges and eventually becomes stranded on what is now Galveston, Texas. Here is where De Vaca's journey really begins. He passes his first years as a prisoner of various Native American tribes.He is not alone, along with him is his two Spaniard survivor Dorantes and Castillo and also Estevanico a black slave.

De Vaca Spends an immense amount of time living alongside the Native Americans in their tribes and watching and recording their customs. De Vaca becomes so like the Native America\an tribes that he begins to wear their clothing, consists of them being nude with a little deerskin in vital areas.

The reason I feel it is important to bring up this quote is to point and and examine just how humane and unlike all other European explorers De Vaca was. The contrast between him and Columbus just absolutely baffles me. How hard is it for one man to completely go against the norm (at that time) and do what he did. In essence De Vaca becomes one of the very first civil rights leaders. After seeing his fellow European enslave hundreds of Native Americans he decides to go back to Spain in order to help bring awareness to what is going on in America. The importance of this quote shows the high level of commitment that De Vaca had to helping end the Enslavement of the Native Americans. De Vaca would spend the rest of his life fighting for the very people that helped him and his men survive all those years. For De Vaca to believe what he did is truly honorable. A Federal holiday should not befall on Columbus but rather on De Vaca.




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