Learn a little more about the economic and political history of the American continent and work on your Spanish listening comprehension at the same time!
Samuel Zemurray, also known as Sam the Banana Man, was a Russian-born, US businessman who made his fortune on the fruit trade -particularly bananas.
Zemurray’s business practices were very controversial and often bordered on the illegal. To advance his financial gain, he actively instigated and supported military coups and US interventionism in Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia.
On the plus side, he was an active philanthropist both in the United States and in Latin America.
Click play to hear about the complex business, political and philanthropic legacy of Sam the Banana Man, including the infamous term ‘Banana Republic’:
