The Beast

Our readings thus far have provided very important information in regard to the United States and Mexico border. Our readings have covered everything from the early days and formation of the border, to the Border Patrol implementation and operation, Texas Rangers policing the border area, the topic of migration among different groups and races of people, individual contributions to understandings of borderland lifestyles, and all of those readings have been based on research and interpretation from scholarly works and authors.

“The Beast” was very unique in the way the author had approached the same topics stated above and provided us, as readers, with equally important information. Martinez had immersed himself into the worlds of migration, violence, poverty, and sorrow in South and Central America. In my opinion, with that experience and courage, he gained something the other authors did not. He was able to really capture his audience and give the whole picture of how migration, violence, and poverty intersect because he was able to see it first hand and he exposed himself to many dangers in the process. He also wrote from a perspective that only participation in the events could shed light on.

Those same dangers that residents and migrants are living with south of the US/Mexico border are the same dangers Martinez had and are what makes this book different from the others. His vivid descriptions can bring a reader to tears. The interviews conducted were distinctive because the interviewees were telling him what their thoughts and experiences were, he was not reading them from history and interpreting them himself.

Another reason why this work was unique was because it was not solely focused on life surrounding the US and Mexico border. The book included those that migrate from Central America to Mexico and eventually find themselves traversing the desert and border to America. Martinez started that journey like countless others do, riding The Beast and making his way to America, again, immersing himself into the dangerous world of migration and violence to the US.

Martinez’s work adds to our comprehension of life in other countries, that not everyone is afforded the opportunity to have freedom and are not afforded the same rights we are here in the US. His book sheds light on a world where violence and poverty are an everyday aspect of life, and in some parts, are expected to happen to you. He also gives a look into very corrupt law enforcement that not only are not doing anything to stop these atrocities, but are taking part in and promoting them as well. This in-depth look into life south of the US/Mexico border adds to our understanding of why so many people want to face those dangers head on to make it to the US.

Overall, this book was eye opening and had some jaw dropping moments that I refuse to ever forget. Human beings cannot continue to let abominations like this happen to other human beings.