Somewhere along the way, Cinco de Mayo became something it isn鈥檛.
The day, May 5, is a holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico, and meant to mark the country鈥檚 military triumph over Napoleon III鈥檚 French forces in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
But for many without Mexican American heritage (and even for some Mexican Americans), Cinco de Mayo has shifted into a shorthand for free-flowing parties, cheap margaritas and tacos 鈥� an appropriation, in other words, of a day that can hold meaning for some Latinos.
Rather than list where you might be able to catch a musica nortena performance or find some killer drink specials, KXT took the opportunity to have conversations with Mexican American artists and creatives in North Texas, digging into the notion of insensitivities around Cinco de Mayo, but also the importance of incorporating Mexican American identity into music and art, and navigating racial, political and cultural tensions on- and off-stage.
What follows are lightly edited, condensed responses from larger conversations.
Eva Arreguin, co-founder of De Colores Collective and host of the podcast
鈥淎 lot of Mexican Americans I know grew up not celebrating [Cinco de Mayo] much at all. I know for myself, I went to a parade that would happen each year. So that was the extent of it. 鈥� As I got older, it obviously became more of a party day for a lot of folks. And I think people love a reason to party. So, unfortunately, with how I guess America is set up, instead of recognizing the roots of a holiday or anything like that, they鈥檒l just take it as a moment to really party and drink and then it becomes exploitative.
鈥淭here have been a couple times where I do see actual Mexican Americans do events for it, and that is a little more exciting to be around 鈥� people who are of your culture, putting on for your culture and celebrating your culture alongside you. I often use it more as a day, within my work, to educate and also remind folks that it鈥檚 important to know the history of Mexican Americans, especially in a place like Texas, and also recognize that even Mexico has its own faults and flaws that we often ignore.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been really beautiful, honestly, to witness and see so many people not just try to fit in and blend with the mold, but say hey, actually, this identity thing is my superpower, not my downfall. 鈥� The world realizing [artists鈥橾 worth outside of just what the identity can do for them is really exciting, especially here in Dallas-Fort Worth, because there are so many brilliant Mexican American creatives doing really powerful work.鈥�
Jason Bobadilla, singer/songwriter who performs as
鈥淚鈥檓 not all with the whole consensus of canceling and the appropriation of culture, but I do think, overall, I don鈥檛 know a single Latino or Mexican American that genuinely celebrates it. My entire family鈥檚 from Mexico. There, it鈥檚 just another [day]; it鈥檚 just the fifth of May. 鈥� Like I said, I don鈥檛 speak for all Latinos, or Mexican Americans or chilangos, but I do think that the people that do celebrate that happen to be Latino or Mexican American, the smaller percentage 鈥� don鈥檛 hold it in the same regard, as I guess Americans, especially a lot of, I guess, white people, who basically try to angle it for promotional purposes. I do love $2 margaritas; I appreciate it. If they really cared about the date that much, they鈥檇 let Latinos drink for free 鈥� if they actually gave a damn, which they generally don鈥檛.
鈥淚 think me already existing and making that kind of music, that there鈥檚 more white people or more 鈥� not just white people 鈥� Black people or people of color becoming more and more interested in Latino culture. 鈥� I think being part of that movement, and doing my part in Dallas and in Texas, hopefully it鈥檒l make people realize and become a little more sensitive. 鈥� I鈥檓 not offended by the Cinco de Mayo spiel. I think, personally, it鈥檚 just a cash grab, done by people who, any other day, wouldn鈥檛 be caught dead wearing a sombrero.鈥�
, rapper and producer, and member of hip-hop collective
鈥淢y perspective, there is a lot of misconceptions, actually 鈥� I鈥檝e seen this often 鈥� that a lot of people think that it鈥檚 Mexican Independence Day. And a lot of people take that as an excuse to party. I don鈥檛 really mind the partying 鈥� I think everyone should be allowed to celebrate 鈥� I don鈥檛 mind other people celebrating as long as it鈥檚 not insensitive, and as long as they respect my culture and they鈥檙e not just wearing sombreros and, like, wearing fake mustaches 鈥� you know, stuff like that. I think teaching people that are gonna go celebrate what it is should be the way forward 鈥� just teaching them about Mexican culture and what the day signifies and getting rid of the misconceptions.
鈥淚 think showing that I鈥檓 an immigrant, and showing that I鈥檓 Mexican, and showing the difficulties that come with being an immigrant 鈥� a lot of the time, it鈥檚 showing us as a triumph, which it is [but] going through a journey like this is not easy. 鈥� I feel like a lot of the time, the other side of the coin 鈥� like procedures with the government or not having seen your family in a while 鈥� the other side of the coin is not shown often. 鈥� I think me, voicing what I go through, someone else might understand more easily through music. I just talk about what鈥檚 real to me.鈥�
Preston Jones is a North Texas freelance writer and regular contributor for KXT. Our work is made possible by our generous, music-loving members. If you like how we lift up local music, consider becoming a KXT sustaining member
