Every year, Cinco de Mayo rolls around, and with it comes the certainty of festivities, frivolity, and a flurry of festive faux pas. This year was no different in Manhattan, where Johnny was out on the streets mingling with revelers who were determined to sip their problems away. From margaritas to muddled history lessons, it was a classic cacophony of confusion and celebration.
The dynamic of the street fiesta ranged from people misinterpreting folk traditions to others astounding in their ability to misremember major historical events. One might have thought that tequila isn’t the only thing people might want to have on tap during Cinco de Mayo – perhaps a history book or two would help as well. When asked what Cinco de Mayo commemorated, responses ranged from the Battle of the Alamo to a general idea that Mexicans fought “against people that don’t want them to drink.” Somehow, the British even got a dishonorable mention. It seems like every year, the true story of Mexico’s victory over the French gets lost amidst the slurred syllables of party jokes.
As the night wore on, discussions morphed from wars and sombreros to more contemporary cultural conversations, like whether donning a sombrero if you’re not Mexican is offensive. The opinions flowed as freely as the tequila, ranging from the idea of cultural honoring to outright laughter at the suggestion that Trump’s alleged sombrero joke was racist. One participant humorously added that Trump allegedly placing a sombrero on Chuck Schumer was due to the sun, not a statement. One can’t help but chuckle at the suggestion that climate control is a greater motivator than cultural insensitivity.
In the haze of cocktails and colorful banter, some folks tried to tackle another pressing issue – whether being called a taco was an insult. In an unexpected twist, it turns out tacos are adored by all; instead of causing offense, it led to a jovial exchange about preferred taco flavors. Tacos, as they rightly noted, are much loved. After all, who wouldn’t want to be called delicious, even if it might be a tad unconventional?
Conversation inevitably drifted toward politics, with some participants wishing to steer clear to avoid “trouble.” Innuendo about ICE and not wanting to draw controversies showed that even the most carefree parties have their uneasy moments. When it comes to political discourse around Cinco de Mayo, it seems the only thing sharper than the salsa’s spice was the sidestepping of any clear political statements.
As the night went on, Johnny emerged into a sea of partiers who were enjoying every bit of the revelry, many of whom didn’t know or care who Jesse Watters was, though they shouted their affections anyway. The humor lay less in the carnival of clichés and more in the genuine warmth of a public celebrating, because at the end of the day, Cinco de Mayo in Manhattan seemed to be less about knowing the facts and more about the shared enjoyment of a communal event. The attempt to uncover layers of cultural and political intermeshment was overshadowed by the intoxicating blend of humor, humanity, and high spirits – and maybe, just maybe, a healthy dose of history for next time.
