Throughout the past year and a half, the Bay Area’s vibrant Mexican community needed to maneuver high rates of COVID-19, attacks on street vendors and a crippling blow to the restaurant and food industry. Now, perhaps more than ever, Mexican Americans are looking forward to celebrating their native country’s 211th Independence Day on Thursday, Sept. 16.
From providing the region with a rich display of outdoor murals, to popularizing California’s most iconic dish — the street burrito — Mexicans are rooted in this land in more ways than one. Perhaps that’s because, up until 1848, California was Mexican territory (along with Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Utah). Long before the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which marked the end of the Mexican-American War, Mexicans have known California as home.
While Mexican Independence Day doesn’t have the same popularity, or notoriety, as Cinco de Mayo, it’s worth acknowledging (and celebrating) the history of our Mexican community — which still makes up the largest Latino group in California and the United States.
Rather than honoring the conclusion of the nation’s battle for independence, Mexico celebrates the beginning of the country’s fight against Spain, which famously occurred on Sept. 16, 1810.
On that day, Catholic priest and revolutionary figure Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla delivered “El Grito de Dolores” (“The Cry of Dolores”). This rallying speech called upon Mexicans to fight back against Spanish royalty occupying the land. Hidalgo was soon captured and beheaded by Spanish soldiers, but his sacrifice went on to inspire insurrections all across the country.
The Mexican War of Independence lasted more than a decade and concluded in August 1821, when the Spanish viceroy was forced to sign the Treaty of Cordoba and surrender to Mexico’s demands for independence and a redistribution of land.
At 11 p.m. every Sept. 15, the Mexican president re-enacts El Grito, marking the start of the celebration. He does so by ringing the same bell as Hidalgo, which was moved to the country’s National Palace.
Coincidentally, “El Grito de Dolores” also marks the independence of various Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Because of this, President Lyndon B. Johnson selected Sept. 15 as the start of Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968; it eventually was expanded into Hispanic Heritage Month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, observed Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
Though Mexican Independence Day is often confused with Cinco de Mayo, the events have no connection to one another.
Cinco de Mayo refers to a battle that happened between Mexico and invading French troops in 1862 — five decades after the country gained independence from Spain. The French tried to establish control over the young and unstable Mexican nation, and were successful in reaching the center of the country. But the French Army was surprisingly defeated in the Battle of Puebla by a largely undersupplied and outnumbered group of Mexican soldiers on May 5, 1862. Cinco de Mayo commemorates that victory.
Although May 5 is a popular celebration in the United States, the day is not viewed as a holiday in Mexico and is typically not celebrated by Mexicans outside of Puebla.
Cinco de Mayo gained popularity in the United States in the 1970s, during the Chicano Rights Movement.
Many Chicano activists used the holiday as a way to celebrate their roots and show their appreciation of Mexican culture. Because the Battle of Puebla was led by Mexico’s first and only indigenous president, Benito Jaurez, they felt the event best symbolized their pride as Mexican Americans.
As a result, the day became popularized north of the border. Mexican Independence Day, on the other hand, has gone largely uncelebrated by most U.S. citizens.
Mexicans often celebrate the day with fireworks, parades, festivals, food and traditional music. It is the biggest celebration and most important reminder of the country’s separation from colonial rule.
In the United States, it has started to gain recognition in recent years. In the Mexican American community, there are events such as lowrider car shows, family parties and various celebrations centered around the arts, food and music, helping to commemorate the liberation.
From mariachis to mole, Bay Area residents and visitors hoping to celebrate can expect to consume a wide range of cuisine, arts and music, honoring Mexican Independence.
This cultural center has proudly promoted Latino arts, civic engagement and community media since 1970, when it launched its first project in partnership with a La Raza Studies class at San Francisco State University under the guidance of Juan Gonzales.
The nonprofit provides a free, biweekly, bilingual newspaper known as El Tecolote around the Bay Area, covering important topics for Latino diasporas in the region. In 2014, El Tecolote was profiled by The Chronicle as part of the A Changing Mission multimedia feature. More recently, Acción Latina collaborated with SFMOMA on a mural project for the Pan American Unity Festival, which features the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera’s final mural that he painted in the U.S, currently on view in the museum’s free Roberts Family Gallery.
Acción Latina. 2958 24th St, S.F., CA. 415-648-1045. accionlatina.org
Co-founded by San Francisco Art Institute graduate Susan Cervantes, her husband, Luis Cervantes, along with community artists in 1977, Precita Eyes stands as the preeminent organization for Latino-centered murals in Northern California. The historic nonprofit arts center is behind some of the most iconic public arts projects around San Francisco, including the curation of Balmy Alley and the “Vamos Gigantes” mural on the PG&E building on 26th Street. Attend a guided tour, sign up for a workshop, or donate to support this art with a splash of Mexican history.
Precita Eyes Muralists. 2981 24th St, S.F. 415-285-2287. precitaeyes.org
Even before going nationally viral for refusing to serve police officers, this small Oakland cafe has been fearlessly vocal about protecting undocumented immigrants in the community. With a focus on racial equity, LGBTQ and trans liberation, and worker’s autonomy, the cafe stands in solidarity with the people of Oakland, while rejecting institutional injustices. Visit this Latino-owned workers cooperative in East Oakland’s Fruitvale District to drink a coffee, buy a shirt made from a local artist or try their delicious pan dulce.
Hasta Muerte Coffee. 2701 Fruitvale Ave, Oakland, CA 94601. (510) 689-2922. hastamuertecoffee.com
Chef/owner Abraham Nuñez has been operating Chicáno Nuevo for more than six years in various locations in San Francisco’s Mission, Bernal and Excelsior neighborhoods. Since 2015, the small, Tijuana street food restaurant has churned out popular dishes that remix old traditions with urban flavors, like their Baja Fish Tacos with Salmon consommé and the Tamale Negro with squid ink, smoked gouday, cheddar, braised brisket and pickled jalapeño. For $35, patrons can enjoy a five-course “street sampler” tasting menu that showcases Nunez’s experience living along the Tijuana/San Diego border, such as a Tostada de Cueritos (pickled pork skin).
The official Mexican Independence Day dish, Chiles en Nogada — a minced-meat, stuffed poblano chile with a white walnut cream sauce, fresh pomegranate and parsley intended to mimic the colors of the Mexican flag — will be available separately.
4-9 p.m. Thursday, Sep. 16. $35. Chicáno Nuevo, 1166 Geneva Avenue, S.F. 415-715-8771. chicanonuevo.com
Agave Uptown in Oakland plans to host an evening of mezcal tasting featuring live music. Although predominantly known for tequila (which comes from Mexico’s Jalisco region), mezcal (an agave-based alcohol derived from Mexico’s Oaxaca region) has become increasingly popular in the United States for its smooth, smoky flavor. Tickets for the private tasting include Oaxacan appetizers, such as homemade molotes, tlayudas, and memelitas.
5-9 p.m. Thursday, Sep. 16. $45. Tickets available at bit.ly/saboresysaberes. Agave Uptown, 2135 Franklin Street, Oakland. 510-288-3668. agaveuptown.com
A literary staple in the Mission District, this Spanish-speaking and Latino-owned bookstore plans to show the movie “Hidalgo, la historia jamás contada” from a projector in its community room — where local Chicano poets have showcased their work since 2011.
The Mexican film, which originally premiered on Sep. 16, 2010, explores the origins of Hidalgo during his captivity, leading up to his famous “grito.” Peruse the Mexican and Latino History sections before or after the film, and add to your library’s collection. Translations will be provided.
6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sep 16. Free. Alley Cat Bookstore and Gallery, 3036 24th St S.F. 415-824-1761. alleycatbookshop.com
Embrace the history of Chicano and Latino poets spanning 100 years (1920-2020) with a live reading on Mexican Independence Day. Join the celebration at Mexican Heritage Plaza in San José to celebrate the resistance and prosperity of the community through poetry.
The event is set to include readings from 20 poets included in “In Xóchitl, In Cuícatl, cien años de poesía chicanx/latinx, 1920-2020,” featuring Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Lorna Dee Cervantes and Naomi Quiñonez.
6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sep 16. Free. Tickets available at bit.ly/gritodepoesia. Mexican Heritage Plaza, 1700 Alum Rock Avenue, San José. schoolofartsandculture.org