The history of Cinco de Mayo is steeped in a victorious battle over the French in 1862. Yet that is not why I celebrate Cinco de Mayo. To me Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a culture that is influential to most all things that happen here in California, and our nation as a whole. From when I was younger and Cesar Chavez was organizing migrant workers to protect and establish rights to now when "Dreamers" are the target of republican politicians and are now back to being fearful that the only country they have ever known will disown them. Cinco de Mayo is a rallying cry to not only respect but to honor.
Sure there are parties and parades that give our continental brothers and sisters some relief from their struggle to be accepted but for me the fight to be recognized as equals here in America is the tribute for this day. America has been established as a nation for coming up on 244 years if we count from the day of our announced independence from Great Britain in 1776. Yet Mexicans have been a part of America since 1598, or continuously for 422 years of recorded history, https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/alt/mexican2.html. No doubt much longer since obviously recorded history doesn't include unrecorded history.
It is auspicious that although Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory over France in a battle, it is also still a fight with America to be treated as equals and with respect. Nothing that many within our society here in America don't already know as particularly African Americans and women will testify. The melting pot ideal of America in our just recent past has been torn apart and now a doctrine of divisiveness is attempting to become our motto. But it is days like today, Cinco de Mayo, that we are reminded that we are still the melting pot of the world and our destiny as such will survive the callous haters who cannot see beyond their own inbred prejudices.
Sure there are parties and parades that give our continental brothers and sisters some relief from their struggle to be accepted but for me the fight to be recognized as equals here in America is the tribute for this day. America has been established as a nation for coming up on 244 years if we count from the day of our announced independence from Great Britain in 1776. Yet Mexicans have been a part of America since 1598, or continuously for 422 years of recorded history, https://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/alt/mexican2.html. No doubt much longer since obviously recorded history doesn't include unrecorded history.
It is auspicious that although Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of victory over France in a battle, it is also still a fight with America to be treated as equals and with respect. Nothing that many within our society here in America don't already know as particularly African Americans and women will testify. The melting pot ideal of America in our just recent past has been torn apart and now a doctrine of divisiveness is attempting to become our motto. But it is days like today, Cinco de Mayo, that we are reminded that we are still the melting pot of the world and our destiny as such will survive the callous haters who cannot see beyond their own inbred prejudices.
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