Junior Valeria Chavez and Sophomore Vivian Frausto believe Hispanic Heritage is something that should be celebrated year round. On one hand, there is Chavez who embraces her culture by standing up for what she believes in and attending marches, while Frausto stays in touch with family traditions that keep her close to her roots.
“One of my family’s traditions is, every Day of the Dead we go to Placita Olvera in Los Angeles,” Frausto said. “Every year, there is this celebration called Día de los Muertos. There is a type of assembly, or event, and the people wear masks of skeletons and they put on skirts and begin to dance. Then a little bit later in the day there is a traditional aztec dance.”
Placita Olvera, one of the oldest streets in Downtown Los Angeles, provides a connection to Los Angeles’ past.The area gives a sense of what Los Angeles was like back in 1858. The original buildings remain standing and representing Mexico’s culture and everything they brought to L.A. when they founded the city of Angelenos.
During the holidays, Frausto also goes to church at 11 p.m. to celebrate Christmas Eve. She and her family stay there and listen to the service. At her church, they have an event celebrating the birth of Jesus, or nacimiento de Jesús.
Frausto’s family also makes homemade tamales as a way to connect with each other. From making food to going to church together and listening to the older family members talk about their experiences and aid them through life is just another way their family strengthen the bond they hold.
However, Chavez takes pride in heritage by protesting policies and groups that negatively affect Latinos.
“I think the amount of bigotry and hatred for people of color in the White House is upsetting and concerning for a minority like myself,” Chavez said. “Between what’s happening with the repeal of DACA and the Anti-Latino Rhetoric that the current administration promotes, it really is alarming. It’s just disheartening, that in 2017, we see such hateful ideologies held by our current administration.”
Right after the election, Chavez attended the Unite Against Hate march in November then participated in the Women’s March after President Trump’s inauguration in January. Chavez’ activism was inspired when Trump gained popularity from what she saw as his hate speech, she had realized she couldn’t sit back and watch the sense of hatred and disunity grow.
“Because I’m 15 I can’t do much; I can’t vote. I go to the marches so I can voice my opinions as well as be surrounded by other people that are also fighting for the same thing as me. You get that sense of unity,” Chavez said. “I feel like I have a voice, that I can tell people when I don’t like something. I can stand up for what I believe in and I can state my viewpoints, so at marches it gives me that platform to be able to speak.”
Chavez and Frausto believe it is important for all Latinos and Latinas to remember to have pride and understand where they come from when giving the proper recognition the hispanic heritage deserves.
“As people that lack representation in mainstream media, it’s important for us to be able to discuss and appreciate all the beauty that our culture has to offer.,” Chavez said. “Hispanic Heritage Month means that, as people who are often misrepresented, we can come together and embrace who we are.”
TCHS School Newspaper