Cultural Appropriation Should Not be Extra Credit
graphic courtesy of freepik.com
What is it that comes to mind when you hear “Día de Muertos,” also known as the “Day of the Dead?” Do you think of sugar skulls, sombreros and Halloween? Or perhaps you just remember watching that one Disney movie, “Coco,” which promoted and illustrated the Mexican holiday through its cute animations. Truthfully, we’re not entirely sure as to how many people in the U.S. — other than those who actually do celebrate it as part of their culture — actually knew about the holiday before the release of “Coco.” Unless, of course, that one over enthusiastic Spanish teacher from high school made you celebrate it for an hour with your presumably ignorant and shallow classmates.
Over this past Halloweekend, the S.U. Spanish club held a Día de Muertos event in the HBC Atrium, complete with decorations, face-painting and information about the history and relevance of the holiday. While many students who attended appeared to have an appreciation for the holiday and its meaning, there were several others who did not. The devaluation was evident as one of the Spanish club members asked a group of students, “Are you here for extra credit? The sign in sheet is over there,” and the students proceeded to sign their name, take some candy and leave. Some insensitive students went as far to express their disappointment of the entire event on their way out due to the dwindling churro supply.
Día de Muertos, a beautiful celebration to honor the dead, is certainly not something to diminish to just a few extra credit points and pieces of candy. Why is it that this holiday, while not as culturally ingrained in the U.S. as it is in Mexico, is treated with such lackluster and almost not recognized at all if not for our Spanish teachers and club members? Is it because everyone is too hungover from the previous night’s Halloween party? Or because there seemingly isn’t something to gain, such as the photo opps we get for Instagram on Halloween or the presents we get under the tree at Christmas?
If you are unfamiliar with Día de Muertos, or would like to appreciate — not appropriate— this piece of culture that you may or may not be a part of, we encourage you to do some research and teach yourself a bit about the incredibly unique and symbolic holiday. Talk to someone who does celebrate it and hear about what this celebration means to them firsthand. Get involved in an event such as the one that the S.U. Spanish club hosted, and see if you can share some knowledge about it with others. As we enter the holiday season, respect and appreciate all holidays and all cultures (although, respect in general should be habitual). It’s never a bad time to learn about something new, and we are sure you’ll be glad you did.