Thread by @S_C_McD

Alright so #CincoDeMayo is tomorrow, so I thought I’d give a little bit of #History . While not a Mexican holiday, it wasn’t created by Americans either. Instead, Cinco De Mayo was born out of the desire of Californios for pro democracy and civil rights (1)

Celebrations began in California in 1863, and was initially celebrated by Mexican agriculturalist of the region. Mexican American Californians were under immense pressure in 1863 - the civil war & the desire of the Confederacy to spread to the west & the desire of the French (2)

to squash democracy in NA through Mexico — threatened the realities and positions of those folks who tended to be pro union and pro democracy (3)

With two wars encroaching upon them that put democracy in tension with white supremacy, there position was clear, but their ability to resist two national governments was a concern. (4)

The battle of Puebla & the ability of the Mexican democratic forces to defeat the French invaders who severely outnumbered them in arsenal & bodies, galvanized the Mexican Californians to form political bands and groups, to fight for democracy, & that banding and celebration (5)

began on May 5th. In the years that followed the day continued to be observed and political pushes also carried on. One article I’ve read calls “a civil rights commemoration”. Overtime, as the political nature of the country evolved and the California (6)

became further engrained in the Union, many of these groups disbanded. Cinco de Mayo would re-emerge in the mid 1900s, with popularization of ad campaigns for alcohol, pushed the Holiday. As we know, Americans love our alcohol, and thus began the current trend. (7)

find it fascinating though, because in many ways it speaks to how Americas boundaries,don’t tell the true story of the people who live there. While most Mexicans don’t celebrate it today, Californios with just as much of a claim & connection to Mexico culturally, genetically (8)

and historically, created the holiday. Because of the California now being in the boundaries of the Us though, this is often ignored. Here’s a great article with more info : kcet.org/shows/lost-la/… (9)

@threadreaderapp please unroll