¿QPM? Cinco de Mayo in Liberal, Kansas.

Non-Latinos are not the only ones confused about why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. I’m from the Dominican Republic, and I have to admit that I didn’t know for a long time that this celebration was not the Mexican Independence Day I was misled by the celebraciones en Estados Unidos about este festejo.

Approximately 60% of the population is Latino. And when many people think of Kansas, they think of el Mago de Oz, and Liberal, Kansas does have a replica of Dorothy’s casa. Pero la ciudad is also known for its beef industry, packing plants, trucking, hard winter wheat, corn and other crops. Dairies and procesadoras de cerdo are also growing businesses. These industrias are Liberal's largest sources of employment.

The pageant was on Saturday and a parade on Sunday where Mexican regiones were represented and celebrated. Now that you know what this fiesta is all about, let’s not be complicit to cultural appropriation and celebrate with respect. Share the knowledge.