3rd annual community celebration in Westwood reclaiming Cinco de Mayo by honoring the historical significance of the batalla de puebla and how it has created a sense of unity and pride for the Mexican/Mexican-American community.
This year's community celebration will take place Saturday, May 6th, from 12pm-7pm, across Osceola St. to Meade St. on Morrison Rd. This family-friendly event will feature an art show, lowriders, live music, cultural dance performances, lucha libre, local vendors, youth activities, delicious Mexican food and more!
WHEN: Saturday, May 6th from 12pm-7pm
WHERE: 3700-3900 Morrison Rd, Denver, CO 80219
This year's community celebration will take place Saturday, May 6th, from 12pm-7pm, across Osceola St. to Meade St. on Morrison Rd. This family-friendly event will feature an art show, lowriders, live music, cultural dance performances, lucha libre, local vendors, youth activities, delicious Mexican food and more!
WHEN: Saturday, May 6th from 12pm-7pm
WHERE: 3700-3900 Morrison Rd, Denver, CO 80219
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The True Narrative of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Batalla de Puebla that took place on May 5, 1862, where the Mexican people bravely fought the French army during the second French Intervention of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo honors the resistance and courage of the Mexican people, made up mainly of Zacapoaxtla, Cuetzalan, Nauzontla, Tetela, Xochiapulco and Xochitlán natives. They were outnumbered and under-resourced, yet claimed victory, making it clear to imperialist forces that Mexico was a sovereign nation.
During that time, California was experiencing a large influx of Mexican immigrants as a result of the gold rush. Faced with discrimination in this new country, these immigrants began to unify as “Juntas” as a way of advocating for themselves. When word of the Batalla de Puebla reached California, the Mexican/Mexican-American people rejoiced with admiration, seeing this battle as a symbol of resistance and pride, and prompting the first Cinco de Mayo celebration ever in Tuolumne County, CA just 3 weeks after the battle. Cinco de Mayo became an opportunity for Mexicans living in the US to celebrate their heritage, pride and culture from 1862 to today.
The original intent of Cinco de Mayo festivities was to celebrate resistance and pride, however over the years this holiday has been hijacked and distorted by the commercialization and commodification of corporate America and Beer companies like Coors and Budwieser. These companies often sponsored these celebrations, reducing it to the “Cinco de Drinko” culture that has come to define this holiday. The “Cinco de Mayo en Westwood” celebration seeks to reclaim the original sentiment of this holiday while honoring the resistance and the parallels that the Mexican-American community continue to face today in their fight for sovereignty and self-determination.
During that time, California was experiencing a large influx of Mexican immigrants as a result of the gold rush. Faced with discrimination in this new country, these immigrants began to unify as “Juntas” as a way of advocating for themselves. When word of the Batalla de Puebla reached California, the Mexican/Mexican-American people rejoiced with admiration, seeing this battle as a symbol of resistance and pride, and prompting the first Cinco de Mayo celebration ever in Tuolumne County, CA just 3 weeks after the battle. Cinco de Mayo became an opportunity for Mexicans living in the US to celebrate their heritage, pride and culture from 1862 to today.
The original intent of Cinco de Mayo festivities was to celebrate resistance and pride, however over the years this holiday has been hijacked and distorted by the commercialization and commodification of corporate America and Beer companies like Coors and Budwieser. These companies often sponsored these celebrations, reducing it to the “Cinco de Drinko” culture that has come to define this holiday. The “Cinco de Mayo en Westwood” celebration seeks to reclaim the original sentiment of this holiday while honoring the resistance and the parallels that the Mexican-American community continue to face today in their fight for sovereignty and self-determination.
ABOUT THE ARTIST |
ABOUT THE ART |
Aalycia Rodriguez is a Chicana multimedia artist and teacher, who was born and raised in the Southwest Denver community. Her family has roots in both Chihuahua, Mexico, and Denver, Colorado.
She is a recent recent graduate from Abraham Lincoln High School where she completed two portfolios as an Advanced Placement art student. At just 19 years old, Aalycia is now the visual arts instructor for In Lak’ech Denver Arts, an after school program that serves 5th-12th grade youth in southwest Denver with community responsive arts education. During her weekly classes, students use different mediums of art such as painting, watercolor, and sculpting with clay and paper mache to learn more about Mexican, Chicano and Indigenous history. Aalycia’s students also have the unique opportunity to collaborate and build large scale art installations for cultural community events in Westwood. Aalycia also lives with Cerebral Palsy, and creates art as a form of therapy to help her cope with her diagnosis. She hopes to use her gift of painting as a means to help others in the same way art has supported her. Aalycia wants her students to be true to their authentic selves by discovering, creating, and learning through the arts. She creates lessons that honor her students’ cultural identities, encouraging them to explore the world around them, and inspiring them to practice radical self love. |
“When I was asked to create a painting for Cinco de Mayo en Westwood, I wanted to make a piece of art that was inspired by all of the strong women in my world. My whole life, I have watched my mom do everything by herself as she overcame every obstacle with whatever she had. My mom taught me to be a strong, independent woman in a society where women are historically kept in the background.
I painted this piece to highlight women in history and in my life whose stories greatly inspire me, and have helped me recognize my true identity and worth. They have helped me reconnect with my roots and make me proud of my heritage and being Chicana. All of the women in this painting are in a way, an extension of me.” -Aalycia Rodriguez |