1) This document summarizes Ernesto "Che" Guevara's book The Motorcycle Diaries, which details his journey through South America in the early 1950s. It provides historical context about the time period and countries he traveled through. 2) It then gives biographical details about Che Guevara and how this early journey influenced his political transformation. It outlines his key roles in the Cuban Revolution and establishment of a socialist government. 3) Finally, it discusses Che Guevara's legacy and iconic status in Cuba as a prominent figure of socialism who continues to be commemorated through murals, statues and imagery.

1. Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Presentation by Dillon von Hirschmann, Pierce College, WA

2. The Motorcycle
Diaries
Notes on a Latin American Journey
Ernesto “Che” Guevara
Forward by Aleida Guevara

3. About theText
■ This is a compilation of diary entries
Ernesto took on his trip through
South America
■ In the middle of the book there is a
compilation of photos they had
taken
■ He andAlberto rode on La
Ponderosa II,Alberto’s bike
■ They are both well educated, but did
not bring a lot of cash

4. About theText (cont’d)
■ La Ponderosa breaks down in Los
Angeles, Chile… continued on
foot/hitching rides
■ Were famous due to newspapers
publishing their story
■ Told them were going to Easter Island
to cure Lepers
■ Ernesto spoke poetically, “Intangible
dust of another era settles on its
(Cuzco’s) streets, rising like the
disturbed sediment of a muddy lake
when you touch its bottom.” (Guevara
103)

5. Historical Context
■ Alberto and Ernesto’s journey spans
between December 1951 – July 1952
■ General Juan Peron was president of
Argentina from 1946 – 1955. Became
president again 1973 – 1974 (his death)
■ Gabriel GonzálezVidela was
president of Chile from 1946 – 1952.
■ Most of South America had many
political parties present, before the
right wing dictatorships of the 60’s
and 70’s

6. Ernesto Guevara
■ Born on June 14, 1928 in Rosario,
Argentina and has severe asthma
■ Enrolled in medical school at the
University of Buenos Aires in 1948
■ Set off on the trip with his friendAlberto
between 1951 and 1952
■ Graduates as a doctor in 1953 and goes
on another trip
■ His political views changed when he saw
democratically elected Jacob Arbenz of
Guatemala overthrown by U.S. backed
forces in 1954

7. Becoming Che
■ “Che” is a friendly term referring to Argentinian people
■ He met with Fidel Castro in 1955 and Joined guerilla war with Cuba against Fulgencio
Batista dictatorship of Cuba
■ Gets promoted to commander in 1957 and leadThe Rebel Army to a win against
Batista’s forces
■ Becomes a Cuban citizen in 1959

8. Timeline in Cuba
■ In 1964 Che addressed the United
Nations General Assembly
■ In 1965 Che traveled to Congo to
support the Liberation forces, upon
returning to Cuba he prepared for a
mission in Bolivia
■ Between 1965 and 1967 Che leads a
guerilla force against the Bolivian
Military Dictatorship, following the
1964 BolivianCoup d'état
■ Died in 1967 shortly after being
captured by Bolivian forces who were
pressured to kill him by the U.S.
■ In 1959 is appointed head of Industrial
Department of the Institute if Agrarian
Reform, later becoming the president
of the National Bank of Cuba
■ In 1960 Che traveled to the Soviet
Union, China, North Korea, German
Democratic Republic, and
Czechoslovakia representing the new
government if Cuba
■ In 1961 is appointed head of the
Ministry of Industry and in 1962 is
elected to National Directorate

9. “A victory by any country over
imperialism is our victory, just as
any country’s defeat is a defeat
for all of us.The practice of
proletarian internationalism is
not only a duty for the peoples
struggling for a better future, it is
also an inescapable necessity.”
Che Guevara, 1965
Che Guevara addressing the UN, 1964.
Picture in Che Guevara, Economics and Politics in the Transition to Socialism

10. Che Guevara’s Legacy
■ Was a prominent figure for Socialism and
freedom
■ His support of Cuba and its government was
heralded by all its citizens
■ October 8th is Day of the Heroic Guerilla in
Cuba
■ His remains were finally uncovered in 1997
in Bolivia and returned to Santa Clara, Cuba
being placed in a memorial

11. Che Guevara’s Legacy
1) Che Guevara mural on dilapidated wall, Havana, Havana, Cuba:
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/che-guevara-mural-on-dilapidated-wall-havana-
havana-royalty-free-image/565976433?adppopup=true
2) Che Guevera mural On Government Building located in Revolution Square, Havana, Cuba:
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/che-guevera-mural-on-government-building-located-
in-royalty-free-image/609882216?adppopup=true&uiloc=thumbnail_similar_images_adp
3) Bronze Statue of Che, Santa Clara - B&W
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/bronze-statue-of-che-santa-clara-b-w-royalty-free-
image/471307405?adppopup=true
4) Che Guevara T-shirts and Cuban flags, being sold at local's vintage board house. (Photo by Roberto
Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/che-guevara-t-shirts-and-cuban-flags-being-sold-
at-locals-news-photo/515641836?adppopup=true
2 3
4

12. Importance
■ This book serves to show the human side of this idolized figure
■ During his travels he was only in his early 20’s, learning about the continent he lived
on
■ In just a few years later he would become the famous socialist figure
■ Che was the driving force behind economic socialism and paved the way for
socialism in Cuba
■ This book was made into a movie, released in 2004 under the same name

13. Works Consulted
Foster, DavidWilliam. “Guevara, Che 1928–1967.” Encyclopedia of Race and Racism,
edited by Patrick L. Mason, 2nd ed., vol. 2, Macmillan Reference USA, 2013, pp.
275-276. GaleVirtual Reference Library,
http://ezproxy.pierce.ctc.edu:2085/apps/doc/CX4190600209/GVRL?u=puya652
47&sid=GVRL&xid=e5b58dc2.Accessed 22 May 2019.
Guevara, Ernesto. The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin AmericanJourney. Ocean
Press, 2017.
McCormick, Gordon H. “RevolutionaryOdyssey of Che Guevara.” Queen’ s Quarterly, vol.
105, no. 2, 1998, pp. 168-85. Literature Resource Center,
http://ezproxy.pierce.ctc.edu:2085/apps/doc/A30518722/LitRC?u=puya65247&
sid=LitRC&xid=8f28e1c4. Accessed 22 May 2019.
Tablada Pérez, Carlos. Che Guevara, Economics and Politics in theTransition to Socialism. 3rd
ed., Pathfinder, 1998.