September 16 commemorates the day that Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla said, “My Children, a new dispensation comes to us today. Will you free yourselves? Will you recover the lands stolen 300 years ago from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards? We must act at once.” 1/9

These words, or something along these lines, were spoken to a community comprised of mostly indigenous and mestizo (mixed but also indigenous) people which triggered the beginning of the Mexican War for Independence. 2/9

I’m struck by the fact that in the United States, we celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain, that is the indigenous and mestizo people of Mexico’s independence from Spain during “Hispanic Heritage Month.” 3/9

September was chosen as “Hispanic Heritage Month” because it is when Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize (once a Spanish colony) declared their independence or celebrate their independence from Spain (sans Belize, from GB) 4/9

Additionally, this month-long celebration starts at the beginning of these declarations of independence and goes through “Columbus Day” or Día de la Raza or Indigenous Peoples Day. The former is contradictory which is why there is a movement to not recognize it. 5/9

Again, I am just generally struck by the fact that “Hispanic Heritage Month” inherently celebrates the Spanish specifically which is also contrary to the intent of becoming independent from Spain. 6/9

Anyway, I speak Spanish and am proud to be bilingual (and believe all Americans should have the privilege to learn more than one language via our public education system) but I do not identify as Hispanic. 7/9

These reflections complicate or add another layer to decolonization for me. 8/9

Anyway, happy Independence Day to all my indigenous relatives across this continent! And to add some complexity to this thread, “¡Viva México!” 9/9