In his book The Beast, Oscar Martinez did what most journalist would never dare to do. He observed the life of the migrants by traveling with them their journey. From this position he interviewed migrants about their lives. He learned of their backstories, and how they ended up in the position they were in and their potential future goals. From this position he learned the true hardships, risks, and fears they all shared. However, in taking this approach, he was also vulnerable to all the dangers.
Martinez personally got to know each migrant he interviewed. Of them were three brothers. All of them had different careers, goals, outlooks of life, and barley communicated with one another. That was until a situation that threatened all three of their lives that they would drop their differences and work together to survive. Others told of stories of traitorous locals, accidents on the train, and women using their bodies as bargaining tools. Even if they survive, they all have to deal with mental scars for the rest of their lives. Even according to their statistics, six out of ten migrants will be killed along the journey.
But it wasn’t just migrants that were interviewed, he also talked with members of law enforcement, as well as former gang members. From them, he learned how the local bandits are more equipped and spread out than the law enforcement members.
Its because of Journalists like Martinez that we get to learn the truth behind stories that most people only hear small parts of through stories, speculation and rumors. Most journalists don’t take the risk he took, risking his life to learn about their lives. He learned the reasons behind why they were migrating. Not just for a better life, but that they were fleeing after major threats of being killed in their local area. Most studies focus on things like numbers of migrants caught or found dead. Some U.S. Official’s and citizens have a misguided belief that they are coming to steal jobs and opportunities for American citizens, instead of thinking hard about the real reason most of them are trying to flee their country.
This book changed my views completely regarding migrants. Their world sounds like the common idea of a post-apocalyptic world where you cannot trust most people and it’s eat or be eaten. I knew migrants had it bad, but I did not know it was to this extreme. They could be picked off at any time and nobody would know or ever care. And to the people who carry out these deeds, it’s their everyday job. Since I live close to the border, its scary to think that so many people are suffering and dying not too far away.
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