The Latin American community wants to continue honoring Columbus' discovery of the Americas because of the culture that came with it, but Columbus Day doesn't acknowledge the misery that the Spaniards brought during the next 300 years of their colonial rule, said José Limón, director of the Center for Mexican American Studies.
"Columbus Day acknowledges just the Spanish discovery of America. That was a problematic thing for people in Latin America," Limón said.
Instead the Latin American community created Día de la Raza - the day of the people - to celebrate the indigenous people and the culture that developed when they incorporated European influences, Limón said. In honor of Dia de la Raza, the Center for Mexican American Studies will present Forjando Lazos Culturales/Comunitarios A Través de las Artes, which translates as Building Cultural Community Through the Arts, today at 7 p.m. in the Texas Union Showroom.
Also sponsored by the Hispanic Faculty/Staff Association and Resistencia Bookstore/Casa de Red Salmon Arts, the event will educate attendees about the indigenous people living in the Americas at the time of Columbus' arrival in 1492, Limón said.
"It's a day to celebrate indigenous contributions ... [It's a] celebration of their history, showing how their traditions have carried on," said raúlrsalinas, founder and director of Resistencia Bookstore/Casa de Red Salmon Arts.
The celebration aspires to recognize the importance of the indigenous peoples' cultural and artistic legacy with a presentation by cultural activists José Montoya, Carmen Tafolla and raúlrsalinas.
The presentation will include poetry readings accompanied by music and an artistic performance by Montoya, said Dolores García, coordinator of the event.
Conjunto Aztlan will perform traditional Chicano music, and UT Ballet Folklórico will entertain through their traditional dance.
The Center for Mexican American Studies hopes to turn the celebration into an annual event, García said.
"I look at it as a cultural enlightenment to spread awareness through our community," she said.
Those unfamiliar with the holiday will experience the artistic traditions of a culturally rich people who enjoy sharing their culture with others, raúlrsalinas said.
"They will hear elements of the traditions of these native people," he said. "We hope that they really get turned on by the music, poetry and dance."
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