Mama Tingówhose given name was Florinda Muñoz Soriano, was born on November 8, 1921 in Villa Mella, where a station on the first line of the Santo Domingo Metro was named in her honor.
Soriano became a symbol of the fight for the agrarian rights of peasants after his tragic death on November 1, 1974, when it was murdered by a landowner’s employee against whom she was leading a fight for some plots which he had surrounded in Yamasá, Monte Plata province.
Her legacy as a defender of the rights of rural women continues to be a source of inspiration. However, despite the fact that he became a symbol, many young people do not know who he was, which has generated concern among historians.
Some historians have pointed out that the absence of figures such as Mama Tingó and other social fighters in Dominican textbooks reflects a lack of content that makes visible the contributions of women and social movements in the cultural construction of the country.
Not everything is put
In his case, the historian Roberto Cassá recognized that in his book “History Social and Economic of the Dominican Republic” volume l and ll, the life of Mama Tingó. “No history book covers everything.“, he explains. He indicates that most of the texts offer only a general overview of the most relevant events and historical figures.
Cassá also points out that “there are few historians in the country” and that the majority of young people under 30 years of age are unaware of the historical contribution of some figures.
Much more is needed
For his part, historian Augusto Bravo highlighted the need to renew the country’s historical education and expand the contents.
Bravo, General Director of the Center for Resources for Learning and Research (CRAI), of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo, (UASD), explained to Free Diary that in the country what is needed is a second story. He criticized the current educational model, “which does not allow young people to understand the history society, resulting in a lack of knowledge about key figures.
“In the content of what is called history That transversal axis that makes women’s contribution visible does not appear,” she pointed out.
He noted that this limits the appreciation of the struggle of Mama Tingó.
He emphasized that, despite monuments in his honor, “much more is still needed, such as exalting his struggle, his demands and his example of life.”
He drew attention to the lack of focus, for example, on the way Juan Pablo Duarte is remembered, where “there is a lot of talk about his name, but we forget to highlight his work and put it in context.”
A deputy director basic school revealed to Free Diary that in the latest textbooks the history“, although he highlighted that they continue to teach about relevant characters like Mama Tingo, during the anniversaries established by the Ministry of Education.
The works that pay tribute to him in the country
Throughout his life, Mama Tingó She was the founder of the Federation of Christian Agrarian Leagues and fought for the redistribution of land, achieving that more than 300 families obtained their land.
His history has been the subject of researchlike the one figure in the book “Mama TingóPeasant Resistance”, published in 2021 by the Ministry of Women on its website, which presents it in this way: “The Ministry of Women has an unavoidable commitment to the memory of women, especially those whose lives It is marked by the fight, commitment and dedication in favor of human rights and the nation. With this publication we exalt the work of Florinda Muñoz Soriano“Mama Tingó“, a women warrior, worthy representative of the peasant women of our country”.
Also, various initiatives have been created in the country to honor his memory, among them are the Monument to Mama Tingó in Villa Mella, the basic school that bears his name, and the Cultural Center Mama Tingó.
The commemorations annuals, which include fairs and cultural activities, seek to keep his legacy alive. Furthermore, the campaignMama Tingó Vive” promotes awareness about agrarian rights and remembers their struggle. However, despite these tributesBravo emphasizes that “much more is still needed.”
