Why Cultural Celebration is More Important Than Ever

Mariachis, ballet folkloric dancers and ornate floats flooded the streets shaded by the Little Village Arch. The structure, draped with vivid murals of the Mexican flag, marked the beginning of the annual 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade. At the perimeter of the crowd, the Chicago Police Department and event security firmly watched the celebrations.

Amid the terror of ICE, political targeting, racial profiling and cultural suppression, Chicago’s Little Village community — proudly known as the ‘Mexican capital of the midwest’ — rallied to honor their heritage. The residents’ incredible attendance, despite the tides of fear and hardship facing the hispanic and latino communities, seemed to confirm their cultural connection and pride.

In January, major enforcement operations targeting immigrants began in U.S. cities following the 2024 inauguration of President Donald Trump. On Sept. 8 — one week before Mexican Independence Day — the Trump administration announced an ICE-led deportation crackdown in Chicago following the death of a 20-year-old local, Katie Abraham, who was hit by an undocumented drunk driver. 

Operation Midway Blitz, as dubbed by the Department of Homeland Security, is planned to target immigrants with criminal records seeking protection under Governor Pritzker’s sanctuary policies. Amid the hostile political climate, countless Mexican Independence events have been canceled or postponed, including Chicago’s annual El Grito Festival. 

Still, event organizers and the Little Village Chamber of Commerce announced their parade was scheduled, despite the anti-immigrant rhetoric — especially pertaining to Mexican and Latino migrants. 

Guatalupe Ladoy, a 67-year-old parade goer, said celebration was more important than ever amid the ongoing concerns over ICE, as cultural exposure honors family, builds community and celebrates resilience. 

“This is important to celebrate because it is good for children to know where they come from,” Ladoy said.

Ladoy explained the parade was more than a celebration of Mexican independence, but an opportunity to share tradition across cultures. 

“No matter Mexican, Puerto Rican, this parade is tradition. It’s for everyone,” Ladooy said. 

Just the presence of the celebration-goers of all ethnicities, ages and creeds seemed to support her point of solidarity. 

This wide-ranging support stands as a reminder that the U.S. is largely a country of immigrants and their descendents, resulting in a patchwork of culture, race and point of origin. The longstanding myth of the melting pot seems to suggest a nation of complete assimilation, where culture, social standing and ancestral values blend into an undifferentiated “stew.” 

In reality, decades of evidence show distinct culture persists despite immigration. So while Hispanic communities are at the forefront of current social-political controversy in the U.S., they’re not fighting alone. Rather than becoming one homogenous nation, supporting differences and honing alliance between neighboring American subcultures builds a stronger social capital. 

In his lecture on Diversity leading to stronger outcomes, Scott E. Page, director of the Center for the Study of Complex Systems and a professor of political science and economics at the University of Michigan, argued diversity was as important to a society as ability.

“Diversity — defined as differences in how we see the world, how we think about the world, how we try and solve problems, the analogies we use, the metaphors, the tools we acquire, the life experiences we have — makes us better at what we do,.” Page said.

Celebrating cultural diversity, as Page said, isn’t only important for community pride but for overall social function. Varying experience and perspective fosters conversation and understanding and teaches individuals how to engage in multiethnic environments. 

Despite the benefits of and calls for cultural celebration, many avoid these events in fear of being targeted. At the 34th Street Parade, those who chose to attend were cautious and aware of the event’s potential dangers. 

A common fear among those without legal protection is leaving their U.S.-born children behind. Detainment and deportation surpass individual impact, affecting families, communities and national trust in the government.

Although celebration is essential in cultural pride, it’s not worth sacrificing one’s safety or security. Still, celebration is more than block parties and street parades — it’s community action and time for remembrance. 

While the current weight of celebration empowers some and alarms others, the Mexican community reminds us why honoring tradition is more important than ever. It’s an infallible mark of cultural resilience.