A Rap by David Sudar

This is no work of fiction

It’s based on an actual event

And so I went to the campo

Not just my pen and my notebook

Not just another gringo on a two week trip

A visit to a coffee community

Trying to look beyond buzzwords like rebellion and impunity

But soon to be seeing the reason for the elusive American dream

I don’t wanna just blame big business and NAFTA

But it’s hard to turn my back on the facts

The coffee price plummets and they tell em’ to adapt

They tell em’, you’re globalized

They tell em’, well, a bunch of lies

Sure, it’s easier to move goods and services around

For the one empresario paying em’ 75 cents a pound

Got a big house and three cars, how’s that sound?

To the campesinos, like just barely enough for pollo and tortillas

For taxes and fees

To the overseers that

Oh wait – this is Tanetze de Zaragoza

They made the most of their legal rights

24 families united

In spite of life threats and imprisonment

Kicked out the municipal government

Now every penny spent is strictly for community betterment

It’s truly a remarkable story

But before we sit back and bask in their glory

We continue, cause this tale is not done

The young are still fleeing

Seeking better opportunities

Like poverty immunity

N’ security and stability

But what about zapoteca cultura

The memories of centuries of overcoming repression and anguish

The native language and age old tradition

Like the cooking secrets of the women

Or working the fields, gathering maiz y canela

To proudly say, Soy campesino

Mi familia, mis amigos, Son campesinos

Juntos, somos Tanetze de Zaragoza

Por este sueño adaptamos

Seguimos a luchar

Luchamos para el presente y para el futuro

Para que nuestra gente sobreviva, creamos una cooperativa

Viajamos a la ciudad como se necesita

Y vendemos nuestros productos de la tierra

Porque somos campesinos

Y hasta siempre somos Tanetze de Zaragoza