Five years ago, we published a blog post about Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador sending a letter to the Spanish Crown and the Vatican, requesting an apology for the “Conquest of Mexico.” We feel it’s a good time to revisit this piece because the topic of mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing) is still very relevant and always a subject of debate. The topic has resurfaced recently with the confusing and possibly false news that López Obrador’s wife, Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, and their son were moving to Spain, with their son attending the Complutense University. Interestingly, Beatriz Gutiérrez is widely believed to have been the mind behind the original letter sent to the Spanish Crown.
So, we’re taking advantage of the moment. In this blog, we’ll continue to discuss the “Conquest of Mexico” and “Mestizaje” because these historical events define modern Mexico. We talk about them extensively with our students when they come to study Spanish with us.

The Conquest of Mexico: Who Should Apologize?

April 2019
By Carlos Brito

In recent weeks, an intense discussion has erupted in both Mexico and Spain. The catalyst was an announcement by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that he had sent a letter to King Felipe VI of Spain and the Pope, urging the Spanish Crown and the Vatican to apologize for the excesses committed by the Spanish who invaded the territory of what is now Mexico and oppressed its original Indigenous peoples.

It’s important to note that talking about the “Conquest of Mexico” is imprecise and highly emotional. First, Mexico didn’t exist as a country. It was a collection of diverse civilizations, mostly dominated by the Aztec Empire, which had used force and politics to control neighboring peoples. And the Spanish were subjects of the Crowns of Castile and Aragon, which is why they spoke Castilian—the Spanish we speak today. Modern Spain didn’t exist either. Emotions tend to run high when people discuss “The Conquest,” often defending pre-Hispanic civilizations or the Spanish with feelings rather than historical facts. Despite this, in Mexico, “The Conquest” remains a wound that continues to heal over the centuries.

It’s true that this chapter in history was bloody and filled with violence and abuse—physical, ideological, and religious. It’s also true that entire civilizations, advanced in many fields, were destroyed, and most of their legacy was buried as part of the conquest. But it’s also a fact that from this violent, bloody birth, a new culture and a new race were born: the mestizo, and what’s more, modern Mexico.

To see this for yourself, you only have to stand on any street in a Mexican city or town and look at the people, their way of being, their symbols, their humor, their view of life. Look for example at the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the most unexpected places. She is the most important religious symbol in our country, and millions of pilgrims come to the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City every year to worship her. The Virgin of Guadalupe is also one of the clearest examples of mestizaje, born from the Virgin Mary and the goddess Tonantzin.

You can walk into a restaurant and try mole, one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes. For those who don’t know, mole is a sauce usually served with chicken or turkey (guajolote), and it is a perfect example of the fusion of ingredients and flavors from Europe, the Americas, and Asia. It’s made with chiles and chocolate, pepper and various spices, tomatoes, chicken, bread, and many more ingredients.

We speak Spanish! But a softer, smoother version, influenced by Indigenous languages. In fact, Mexico has the largest number of Spanish speakers in the world—more than Spain itself. And this Spanish evolves every day, constantly inventing new words and borrowing from other languages. In Mexico, we often say “Ciao” to say goodbye. Now, English is the language that influences us the most, especially with so many Mexicans living in the United States and spreading “Spanglish” in our country. For instance, people might say, “Voy a aplicar para la universidad” instead of the correct “Voy a inscribirme en la universidad.”

Our traditional celebrations are intensely a blend of Hispanic and Indigenous traditions. Where does the Spanish Catholic part begin and the Indigenous part end in the Día de los Muertos celebration? It’s hard to tell. The same is true for Semana Santa (Holy Week), Las Posadas, and many other Catholic celebrations that have a strong Indigenous influence.

Although mestizos are the majority and define what it means to be Mexican, there are about two million Indigenous people from more than 60 ethnic groups in Mexico. They are often poor, marginalized, and discriminated against—but not by the Spanish conquerors. They are discriminated against by the mestizo majority, who often, without saying it openly, consider them inferior. “You’re an Indian!” is a serious insult. We like Indigenous people in museums, but not in our daily lives.

If there is a need to apologize and amend the situation for Indigenous people, it is far more important that these apologies and remedies come from us, the mestizos, who don’t invite a “pure” Indigenous person to our table and continue to appropriate their goods when it suits us. An apology from the Spanish Crown and the Pope might be welcome, but we, the majority of mestizo Mexicans, have a more delicate and important task: to apologize to our Indigenous compatriots and help them practically improve their lives, with things as simple as not discriminating against them and accepting them into our communities.