I recently came across a flier in an old backpack of my
daughter’s: Wanted: Committee Chairs for
this Spring’s Cinco de Mayo All School Celebration. It was replete with
cultural props, including a sombrero, cactus tree, donkey, taco, maracas, and
chili peppers. Seeing this again brought back the moment when, years earlier,
my daughter had handed the flier to me: The local elementary school’s PTSA, in
an attempt to provide a “multicultural experience” for students and families, was
sponsoring a “Mexican-American” event. But, since there were no Chicana/o
students, parents, or staff members in the school community (as far as I knew),
it seemed that the PTSA was likely to get it wrong. I was concerned.
After making some inquiries, I was told the school wanted to
celebrate El Cinco de Mayo because it was Mexico’s Independence Day. However,
El Cinco de Mayo is actually Battle of Puebla Day, commemorating the defeat of
Napoleon III in 1862. Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16. Concerned that
the stereotypes associated with Chicana/os, such as fast-food items, piñatas,
sombreros, and serapes would be central to the event, I wrote the school,
asking if they might consider canceling the event. They didn’t, and I was
correct.
