The Wake

Usually Dia de los Muertos, which translates to “day of the dead” in English, is a time to remember and honor lost loved ones, but this year the celebration was politically themed. The Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence, the Department of Chicano Studies and La Raza Student Cultural Center sponsored the event, which is very common in Mexico, and each built an altar devoted to democracy in an attempt to raise awareness for the concerns of the Chicano and Latino communities.

“Historically the day of the dead is celebrated where those who have died come back,” says Michael Duenes, a teaching specialist in the Chicano studies department. “There are certain traditions to help welcome those who have come back,” he says, such as a decorated altar, which often includes the deceased’s picture, favorite foods, reminders of a favorite activity or sport, incense and pungent marigold flowers, which help guide spirits home. But the holiday, Duenes says, “has evolved into a political and social commentary.”

Richard Martinez, an assistant professor in the Chicano studies department, says that the Nov. 7 election was the inspiration for the event’s focus. Awareness needs to be raised about the “political issues that Latinos face,” Martinez says. “We encourage people to raise questions and challenge” the status quo. The issues important to the Chicano and Latino communities remain largely under the radar, he says.

Three sub-spins were chosen to represent some of the groups major concerns. An altar on display at Klaeber Court brought up the government’s broken promises, such as the lack of weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq and the deception surrounding the war. That’s a big concern to the Chicano and Latino communities because “Latino males are overrepresented in the military,” says Lisa Sass Zaragoza, programs and outreach coordinator of the Chicano studies department.

“Patriotism as a two-sided coin,” as Martinez put it, was the focus of the altar at Scott Hall. “The idea is to get people to think. Patriotism can take more than one form,” Martinez explains. “It can be used to encourage democracy and to silence it.”

Sass Zaragoza also mentioned immigration. Immigration “is a huge political tool that’s used as a wedge issue,” she says. “I think it’s a ridiculous use of resources.” She’s also disappointed that “the discussion has not included the importance of Latino laborers.” She considers the two issues of immigration and labor related. The United States economy is very dependent on immigrant workers, she says, and curbing immigration rates will likely have a negative effect.

Diversity on campus, and the challenges that minority students face, was the third sub-theme. Martha Ockenfels-Martinez, the intercultural representative of La Raza, says that if minority concerns, such as the closing of the General College or the killing of a bill last year that would provide government aid to undocumented students, are ignored it’s a “spiritual death.” She sees this as a call to action because she doesn’t want a college education to be “out of reach” for minorities. “A lot of people aren’t aware that institutions like the University aren’t accessible to Latino students,” adds Kevin Terry, a double major in political science and Chicano studies.

“We’re here to visibly demonstrate that there are people who care about Latino politics,” says Miguel Vargas, the office manager of the Chicano studies department. “There are people who are concerned.”

Many were surprised by the political nature of the day. “I was a little confused at the political chanting going on. It seemed out of place,” Jacob Miller, a global studies major, says. “That must be a modern part of it,” adds Andrew Berg, a communications junior, who attended because he has a Mexican coworker and wanted to learn more about the tradition and culture.

There was still a lot of focus on those who have passed. “Death is always present. It’s nothing to be feared,” Duenes says. Jana Burt, a second year theater major who is taking a class that required her to attend the event, says that death with “Latino tradition is a lot more of a celebration than a grievance, which I think is fascinating because in American culture we don’t view death in quite the same way.” She says she wanted to learn more about the way Latinos and Chicanos celebrate.

“The tradition really started with the ancient Aztecs, so it’s old,” Martinez says. “I think the importance lies in the ceremony of remembering those who have passed. They can be kept alive in our hearts and minds,” Martinez says.

“Cultures all over the world remember the dead in some way and this is one way of doing it,” Martinez continued. “If we don’t talk about [the important issues] we’re missing an opportunity.”