Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán facts for kids
Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán (born January 20, 1908, in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz – died 1996, in Xalapa, Veracruz) was an important Mexican anthropologist. He was known for studying groups of people who were often overlooked, like Afro-Mexican communities and native groups.
He led the National Indigenous Institute, which works to help native communities. He also helped shape government rules for these groups. Because of his work, he is very important in the field of applied anthropology, which uses anthropology to solve real-world problems.
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Life and Career
Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán was the son of a doctor in Veracruz, Mexico. He followed in his father's footsteps and studied medicine at the National University. He earned his first degree in 1927 and became a medical doctor in 1931. After finishing his studies, he went back to his home state and worked as a doctor in the town of Huatusco for ten years.
While working as a doctor, he became very interested in local history. He even wrote a book about land struggles during the time Mexico was a Spanish colony. In 1942, he met Manuel Gamio, an anthropologist from Columbia University. Gamio suggested that Aguirre Beltrán study people of African descent in Mexico. This led to his famous book, La población negra de México, 1519-1810 (published in 1946).
After this, he decided to become an anthropologist instead of a doctor. However, he still studied topics that combined medicine and anthropology.
He held several important government jobs. He was in charge of the health unit in Huatusco. Later, he led the Department of Demography (which studies populations) for the Mexican government. He also directed Indigenous Affairs for the Public Education department from 1946 to 1949.
He then worked as a researcher for the National Indigenous Institute (INI) and later became its subdirector. He even returned to Veracruz to become the head of the Universidad Veracruzana. During the 1970s, he was a sub-secretary for culture and education. In this role, he created a series of publications that shared research about native communities.
Works
Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán wrote many books and studies. Here are some of his important works:
- El señorío de Cuauhtocho: Luchas agrarias en México durante el virreinato (1940)
- La población negra de México, 1519-1810: Estudio etnohistórico (1946)
- Formas de gobierno indígena (1953)
- Problemas de salud en la situación intecultural (1953)
- Problemas de la población indígena de la cuenca del Tepalcatepec (1953)
- Cuijila: Esbozo etnográfico de un pueblo (1957)
- Medicina y mágica: El proceso de aculturación (1963)
- Regiones de refugio: El desarrollo de la comunidad y el proceso dominical en mestizoamérica (1967)
- Teoría y práctica de la educación indígena (1973)
- Obra polémica (1976)
- Lenguas vernáculas: Su uso y deuso en la enseñanza, la experiencia de México (1983)
- Zongólica: Encuentro de dioses y santos patronos (1986)
- Crítica antropólica: Contribuciones al estudio del pensamiento de México (1990)
- Obra antropológica (16 volumes, 1989-1995)
Honors and Awards
Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán received many awards for his important work:
- Malinowski Award from the Society for Applied Anthropology (1973)
- Manuel Gamio Award (1978)
- National Social Science Prize (1979)
- Belisario Domínguez Medal (1991)
See also
- In Spanish: Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán para niños
- Bronislaw Malinowski Award (1973)
