Seeing Indians: A Study of Race, Nation, and Power in El Salvador

The book "Seeing Indians" by Virginia Tilley is a groundbreaking exploration of the history and persistence of indigenous communities in El Salvador.

Through a comprehensive analysis of historical, anthropological, and archaeological evidence, Tilley sheds light on the political motives behind the erasure of indigenous identity from the country's national consciousness.

Part I delves into ethnographic research conducted by the author in El Salvador and Guatemala, revealing how "Indian-ness" has persisted in contested forms despite efforts to eliminate it.

Part II traces the alteration of the Salvadoran definition of being Indian to fit within a racially unified society, while Part III examines the motives driving this myth of Indian disappearance.

The book concludes with an analysis of the political debate surrounding El Salvador's indigenous peoples' attempts to express themselves politically in the 1990s.

With its interdisciplinary approach and comprehensive research, "Seeing Indians" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex history of El Salvador and the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights.