Benito Juárez

Hello. My name is Benito Juárez, and I want to tell you my story. I was born on March 21st, 1806, in a small village called San Pablo Guelatao. It was high in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico. My family was Zapotec, which means we were the Indigenous people of that land. When I was a little boy, I did not speak Spanish like many others in Mexico. I only spoke the Zapotec language. I spent my days as a shepherd, walking through the beautiful green hills while taking care of our sheep.

When I was 12 years old, in the year 1818, I decided to walk to the big city of Oaxaca. I went to live with my sister because I wanted to go to school more than anything else in the world. It was a little hard at first because I had to learn how to speak Spanish. But I loved learning so much. I read every single book I could get my hands on. I studied very hard for many years, and in 1834, I finished my studies and became a lawyer. My dream was to use what I learned to help people and make sure everyone was treated fairly.

My wish to help others led me into politics, where I could help make rules for my country. In 1847, I became the governor of my home state, Oaxaca. That was a very important job. Later, in 1858, I became the president of all of Mexico. I was very proud because I was the very first Indigenous president of my country. It was a difficult time for Mexico, with many challenges and big changes happening. But I always believed in fighting for freedom and justice for every single person.

I worked for my country for my entire life. I lived to be 66 years old. Today, people in Mexico remember me as a national hero. My birthday is even a national holiday. All across the country, you can find statues of me and streets named after me. I left behind a famous saying that I hope you will remember: 'El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz'. In English, that means, 'Respect for the rights of others is peace'. It is a reminder to always be kind and fair to everyone you meet.