The David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard University work to increase knowledge of the cultures, histories, environment, and contemporary affairs of Latin America; foster cooperation and understanding among the people of the Americas; and contribute to democracy, social progress, and sustainable development throughout the hemisphere. Book jacket
BITTER FRUIT explores the methods employed by the USA, particularly through the CIA and its ambassador, to overthrow Guatemala's democratically elected government in 1954. President Jacobo Arbenz was enacting land reforms aimed at alleviating poverty in a country still shackled by an oppressive labor system. Following the defeat of a dictatorship in the 1940s, Guatemala sought to enfranchise its citizens. The "fruit" in the title refers to the United Fruit Company (UFC), a powerful American corporation with significant land and political influence in Guatemala. When Arbenz's government seized uncultivated UFC land and compensated the company based on its tax valuations, it triggered a backlash in Washington. The term "communism" was invoked, leading President Eisenhower to authorize covert operations to replace Arbenz with a military junta. This move contradicted the democratic ideals inspired by FDR. The book is a meticulously researched historical account, featuring a chapter on Edward Bernays, a PR pioneer hired by UFC to sway public opinion against Arbenz. Ironically, shortly after the coup, the US government filed an anti-trust suit against UFC, questioning the motives behind the intervention. A 1998 report revealed that 150,000 people were killed and 50,000 disappeared post-coup, predominantly at the hands of government forces. This poignant narrative highlights the tragic consequences of foreign intervention in Guatemal