A Common Misconception

 

This Wednesday is Cinco de Mayo. Many people in the United States who participate in the festivities of this holiday often conflate it with Mexican Independence Day (celebrated on Sept. 16). However, the values of the holiday are actually rooted in celebrating racial and full democracy.

The Latinx community also faces adversity beyond the annual appropriative and uninformed celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Racially motivated, violent attacks, as well as police violence have struck the community throughout the past year without garnering national attention.

We hope that this week's offerings give you an opportunity to learn about Cinco de Mayo as well as shed light on other issues facing the Latinx community today.

Participate
Understand the history behind Cinco de Mayo and how the values of this holiday support racial and full democracy from Dr. David-Hayes Bautista of the UCLA Health Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture. 

Read
"What will make people care about police shootings of Latinos?" asks Gustavo Arellano, M.A. '03, in the Los Angeles Times.

Learn
Research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has punished Latinx communities for hard work and larger families.

Understand
As jobs continue to lay off employees, younger Latinx generations are deciding to join the street vending business —including first-generation students like Lyzeth Garcia Exp. '24.

Support
Join us in supporting the UCLA Health Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture this May through the center's Spark Campaign.
 

We thank you for your support. Please feel free to reach out to us by email at  diversity@alumni.ucla.edu .

Take care,

UCLA Alumni Diversity Programs & Initiatives staff