Reflections on Detroit's Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

The Detroit celebration of Cinco de Mayo
has become much more
than a comemoration of The Battle of Puebla.
It has become a celebration of Ethnic heritage.

It saddens me that Detroit newspapers
aren’t covering the event
As extensively as they could,
detailing some of many marvelous things
that go on during festival weekend.
That, my friends,
is one of the original reasons
I created this blog over a year ago.

Our youth are very much involved in this event.
Raices Mexicanas and Así Es Mi Tierra
are Ballet Folkoricos
comprised of Detroit area youth.
They are as dedicated to the art of dancing
as many suburban youth are to football,
and perhaps even more so.
The Cinco de Mayo event
also featured dancers from Compás.
Parents and grandparents
are heavily involved with these young dance artists.
Some of these parents and grandparents
stitch, sew and create the dance costumes themselves,
demonstrating a love for their child
and a love for the art of Mexican Ballet Folklorico.

And yet,
I received comments on our Cinco de Mayo website
from those afraid of gang violence.
Personally,
I am more afraid
of not giving our precious youth
a venue and an event
to showcase their talent
and their ethnic pride.
Personally,
I have a greater fear
of not giving our youth
an opportunity to give something back
to the community that created them.

And let’s not forget
Ronald McDonald
who entertained the children on the lawn.
Clark Park:
A place for children to playfully enjoy
the antics of The Clown Dressed in Yellow.

The Cinco de Mayo event
also featured El Mariachi Nuevo Zapopan.
These professional musicians,
also dedicated to their art,
have been gracing the Detroit area
with their talent for many years.
The trumpet starts “El Son de la Negra”
and one can’t help but to be moved to a certain joy
and a certain pride.
I, for one,
appreciate that these talented musicians
carry on this artistic tradition of Mariachi.
And I am proud
that this group hails from Detroit.

Crafters filled the park
with their handiwork. . .
. . . local people
displaying
local arts and crafts. . .
What better way
to celebrate the great creativity
that is so often hidden from public view???

And for those whose entertainment preferences
are more on the classical side,
There was
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra Youth Ensemble.
Again,
young people
sharing their gifts and talents
with the people of the community.
Classical, professional and extremely talented:
That’s the only way I can describe
these wonderful young musicians.
Thank You, DSO Youth,
for gracing Clark Park
during the annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta.

And the parade. . .
. . children from area schools,
marching bands, Charros on horseback,
The Lowriders,
Community leaders, . . .
. . Flags, Fun and Fiesta
all rolled into one. . .
that describes our parade.

And let’s not forget the Fun Run.
Yes,
Detroit’s Cinco de Mayo Fiesta
even had something for runners
end walkers,
a way for the athletic to get involved.

And Revolucha de Mayo. .
. . this was their second year with us. . .
entertaining fiesta attendees
with their unique form
of professional wrestling.

I read a few comments on other blogs
stating that this event should have been canceled
due to the fear swine flu.
However, what these fail to realize
is that several nurses where, in fact,
In the park taking blood pressure,
checking blood sugar,
and passing out
much needed
important information
to the community.
These nurses made themselves available.
Kudos to these dedicated health care professionals.
Education conquers fear
each and every time.

The Mexican Patriotic Committee of Detroit
has done a great job
in helping to instill
a certain ethnic pride,
not only to those of Mexican background,
but to Latinos in general.
Clark Park abounded with flags.
I saw more than just the Mexican flag
grace the park.
I saw flags from
Puerto Rico, El Salvador,
Columbia, Venezuela, Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Ecuador, . . .
. . .and of course, Old Glory Herself.
This only goes to show
that the MPC of Detroit
is doing the job her members committed to,
and so much more.

There will always be the “nay sayers” among us,
those who fear the swine flu,
those who fear gang violence.
And, I suppose,
there will always be news folk
who prefer to cover the dismal
as opposed to the marvelous.

And so,
with this blog
I state
that fear will not win.
With this blog
I will write about
Detroit’s Cinco de Mayo Event
even if
(and perhaps, because)
local news people don’t.

Thank you to Festival Sponsors.
Thank you to Fiesta Attendees.
And Thank You
to The Mexican Patriotic Committee of Detroit.

God Bless Detroit.
And Diosito,
Please remember Clark Park
and the Southwest Side
In a very special way!

Que Así Sea.