What Justifies School’s ‘Viva Mexico’ Event?
Your article “Kids Dance to Fete Mexican Independence” (Sept. 17) left me confused. If one didn’t know better, one would think the program initiated by school Principal Lucky Hemphill more appropriate for a Mexico City elementary school class, particularly the “Viva Mexico” epithets. I would hope there is an equivalent and more publicized celebration at O’Melveny school when California/USA became liberated from its undemocratic Mexican forebears.
As an activist in multicultural and racially interactive arts expression and appreciation, I do not understand the segmentation and fragmentation of the purported multicultural “mixing” at a 99% Latino school. Are there any Salvadorans, Guatemalans, pure Spaniards, or is the school 99% Mexican? It appears that other Caucasian, Asian and African races were missing or excluded from this program.
Most confusing of all was Principal Hemphill and the faculty leading a rousing cheer of “Viva Mexico” in a Los Angeles Unified School District, taxpayer-supported school. I hope this program began with the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” and the Pledge of Allegiance.
J. JERRY DOMINE
Woodland Hills
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