Rooted in Culture, Rising with Pride
A reflection for Mexican Independence Day & Hispanic Heritage Month
September 16 is Mexican Independence Day, and with Hispanic Heritage Month beginning this week, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what it means to me to be Latina, to be Mexican, and to carry that culture with me. When I think about moments when I have felt most connected to my culture, one experience immediately comes to mind: folklórico.
I actually started folklórico pretty simply. I was an adult looking for a new hobby. I wanted to meet people, make friends, get out of my comfort zone, and try something different. I didn’t expect to fall in love with it. But from my first class, I did. There was something about the music, the movement, the dresses, the people, and the energy that made me feel like I belonged. I met some amazing people along the way, and we encouraged each other, learned from each other, struggled through steps together, and pushed each other to keep going. And trust me, some of those steps were HARD.
Your feet have to learn movements they aren't used to. You have to think about your posture, your footwork, your skirt, the music, your facial expressions, and somehow make all of it look effortless. But that's part of what made it so beautiful.
More Than a Dance
One thing I will always appreciate about my folklórico teacher was how passionate she was about teaching us more than choreography. She taught us about the history behind the dances, where they came from, and what we were representing when we performed them. I started paying attention to things I hadn't thought much about before the different styles of music, the regions represented through dance, the dresses, the craftsmanship that goes into them, and the history behind everything we were wearing and performing. Learning those things made me feel closer to Mexico. And then being able to put on one of those beautiful dresses and represent that culture?
Un orgullo.
There really isn't another way for me to describe it. It made me proud. Proud of the culture I came from. Proud of what I was learning. Proud of the work all of us were putting into our performances. And honestly, proud of myself for doing something that pushed me so far outside of my comfort zone.
I am not someone who naturally loves being in front of a crowd. Performing meant allowing myself to be seen. Folklórico brought out this different version of me, a more confident version of myself who wasn't afraid to take up a little more space. It empowered me as a Latina.
What Does Being Latina Mean to Me?
I was born in Mexico, but I was raised in the United States. Because of that, my relationship with my culture and identity has been shaped by both places and by my own experiences growing up here. And I think that's something worth talking about during Hispanic Heritage Month.
There isn't one single experience of being Latino or Latina in this country. Our stories are different. Our families are different. Our relationships with Spanish are different. Our relationships with the countries our families come from are different. Even the words we choose to identify ourselves: Latino, Latinx, Hispanic, Mexican, Mexican American, or something else can mean different things to different people. That's why I think this month can be about celebration, but also about reflection.
What does being Latino or Latina mean to you?
What does Hispanic mean to you?
What parts of your culture make you feel rooted?
And how has your relationship with your identity changed as you've gotten older?
I know mine has.
More Than One Month
Hispanic Heritage Month gives us a designated time to celebrate our cultures, recognize our history, and honor the people who built legacies before us and those who continue advocating for their communities today. But our voices shouldn't only matter during this month. Our stories shouldn't only be told during this month.
Our movies, music, businesses, traditions, food, art, accomplishments, struggles, and everyday lives shouldn't suddenly become relevant on September 15 and disappear after October 15. Our communities are here all year. And I think celebrating our heritage also means asking ourselves what we're doing with what was passed down to us.
How are we supporting each other?
How are we giving back to our communities?
Because heritage isn't only about looking backward at where we came from. It's also about what we're creating now and what we're leaving behind for the people who come after us. I don't dance folklórico anymore. When I moved to Virginia, that chapter of my life came to an end. But I carry it with me. Now, whenever I see a folklórico group perform, I appreciate it differently. I see the footwork. I see the dresses. I see the practice. I see the history. I see the pride.
And, for a moment, I see that version of myself again, the woman who decided to try something new and ended up discovering another piece of herself. Maybe that's what being rooted means to me. Our roots aren't supposed to keep us in one place. They remind us where we come from while giving us something strong enough to grow from. And for me, being rooted in my culture has also been part of learning how to rise.
Feliz Día de la Independencia de México. 🇲🇽 And happy Hispanic Heritage Month.
May we celebrate our roots, honor the people who came before us, continue learning our stories, and make sure we're helping each other rise along the way.
