Sisters of the Underground
Sisters of the Underground is an 8-episode scripted series by Executive Producers Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez. It follows the true story of three courageous women, known as the Mirabal sisters, who changed the world. Their lifelong activism in the Dominican Republic and state-orchestrated assassination ignited outrage that led to the downfall of one of the most brutal and enduring dictators of the 20th Century, Rafael Trujillo (aka El Jefe). This series takes us back to a period when the Mirabal Sisters inspired an entire nation to emancipate themselves from a tyrannical regime that lasted for more than 30 years. While the martyrdom of the Mirabal Sisters is the stuff of legend in the DR, Sisters of the Underground brings these hidden figures to life for a global audience in a vivid, immersive, audio drama.
Our Editor's Take
The Sisters of the Underground podcast is the true story of Patria, Minerva, and María Teresa Mirabal. They were three women who lived in the Dominican Republic in the mid-20th century. Dictator Rafael Trujillo presided over 30 years of suffering in the country. This era was especially hard for women and anyone who disagreed with his views. An assassin ended his rule in 1961, but it took years of revolution to make that happen. The Mirabal sisters were vital in the revolution. These three women stood up during these difficult times for the country.
The podcast presents the story as a present-day conversation. Minerva's daughter and granddaughter give a modern telling of their history. The story unfolds as they read through letters written by Minerva to her husband. The book, The Letters of Minerva Mirabal and Manolo Tavárez: Love and Resistance in the Time of Trujillo, records these letters in writing.
The Sisters of the Underground podcast's retelling starts in 1930. Trujillo started his rule then. He promised a bright future for the Dominican Republic. He soon revealed his true intentions, though, and his reign of terror began.
The podcast showcases how hard times were for women during Trujillo's dictatorship. Minerva's granddaughter can't understand the oppression of women and her grandmother. She asks her aunt why Minerva feared going to school. She tells her that girls were not always free to get an education as they are today. "The world was different then, especially here in the DR," she tells her niece. "It might be hard for you to imagine life under a dictator, but people lived in fear." This fact makes Minerva's law degree even more impressive. Others urged her to sit down and be quiet, but she knew she had to be louder and educate herself.
Sisters of the Underground features engaging voice acting and sound effects. An immersive experience awaits listeners of this eight-episode series. However, the show does describe some violent events, so viewer discretion is advised.
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