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The Complicated Story of La Malinche

Season 1 Episode 1 | 3m 36s

La Malinche served as Hernán Cortés's interpreter, and provided him with sensitive information that aided his conquest of Mexico, leading many to view her as a traitor to her people. But she was also enslaved by Cortés, and many now see her as an icon of motherhood and feminine power. John Leguizamo and historians explore this complicated legacy.

Funding for American Historia is provided, in part, by PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The WNET Group’s Chasing the Dream initiative, the Ford Foundation/JustFilms, and Seton J. Melvin.
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