Sororities across the nation are facing heat for holding all-you-can-eat taco fundraisers on Cinco de Mayo. Pressure from Latino students at universities has been stepped up in recent years, resulting in the cancellation of an event at Dartmouth and the replacement with a different theme at Stanford.
Latino groups seem to be particularly sensitive to the issue of cultural appropriation, complaining about white people dressing in sombreros and drinking tequila on the holiday. MSNBC reportedly apologized after a segment where a man dressed in stereotypically Mexican attire danced around on air, drinking a bottle of mescal.
But why the outrage over so innocent a cultural tradition? And why is it so wrong to enjoy other culture’s traditions by dressing like them and eating their native food? If that’s racist, then why doesn’t anyone complain when on St. Patrick’s Day the nation dresses up in green and acts like drunken Irishmen? Why is the latino community so sensitive over this?
UCLA even offered students a guide to a “racist-free Cinco de Mayo.” The list advised people not to wear a sombrero, don’t wear a fake mustache, and don’t speak your high school Spanish. The sign also read that other people’s cultures are not yours to appropriate.
The idea that cultures are supposed to be separate and distinct is the ideology of the segregationist. Appropriating other cultures is a sign of acceptance and of good will. I could see that they might have a point if people were being hateful of latino culture, but that is certainly not the case here.
The opposition to cultural appropriation comes from the idea of colonization, where countries that were invaded would impress their culture on the natives while their own culture was being removed. The reason that this is an idiotic comparison is because Mexicans were colonized by the Spanish. Technically the native Mexicans are speaking the language of their oppressor, not the Americans who speak Spanish on a Mexican holiday.
Also, Americans aren’t impressing their culture onto Mexicans, nor are they attempting to colonize their state. If anything the reverse is happening with Latinos fleeing north of the border (not that there’s anything wrong with that, the more the merrier I say).
Still, this is just another example of political correctness run amok. I love cultural appropriation and I encourage more people to do so. It’s a great way to learn about other cultures and to enjoy another people’s traditions. My favorite act of cultural appropriation was when my family appropriated a little Mexican girl… and adopted my little sister.
Gracias, amigos! All you can eat tacos and tequila on me next Cinco de Mayo!
[about_austin]
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