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Celebrating Cinco de Mayo, more than just festive margaritas and mariachi tunes, holds a deeper meaning for me. As a Black queer man with roots traced back to enslaved Africans in a country still gripped by white supremacy and racial prejudice, this day isn't simply a party. Instead, it's a clarion call to remember the power of resistance.
That battle cry echoes back to the struggle of the Mexican people against foreign domination. It was May 5, 1862, when a group of indigenous, poor, and brave men stood toe-to-toe with the French army – a wealthy, arrogant, and overconfident opponent. In the Battle of Puebla, these proud Mexicans defied the odds, dealing an unexpected blow to Napoleon III's forces.
The French army, brimming with confidence after their successes in Europe, had descended upon Mexico to install a puppet emperor. Little did they know that they were about to meet their match. Despite being vastly outnumbered and outgunned, the Mexican fighters fought valiantly, delivering France its first significant defeat since the Battle of Haiti in 1803.
This victory wasn't just a military triumph, it was a moral one. A victory of the oppressed over the oppressor. It was a rallying cry that reverberated throughout history.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the nation was engulfed in its own struggle – the Civil War. As traitors in the Confederacy sought help from Europe, including the French, Mexico's resistance at Puebla had unwittingly thrown a wrench into Napoleon's plans. The disruption caused by the battle forced France to invest more troops and resources in Mexico, weakening their resolve to intervene in U.S. affairs. Added to British pressure to remain neutral, the diversion allowed the Union to purchase precious time.
This time turned out to be crucial for the Union's cause. Lincoln used the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, effectively turning the war into a fight for freedom and abolition. As a result, nearly 200,000 Black people took up arms, not just to preserve the Union, but to strike a blow against the scourge of slavery.
It's clear then, that we don't celebrate Cinco de Mayo because of tequila. We honor it because the resistance at Puebla ignited a spark that lit the road to our freedom. By standing together against a seemingly unstoppable power, they demonstrated that even the greatest empires can crumble.
Today, in 2025, we find ourselves once more in the midst of a struggle against an empire – a domestic one. This empire is fueled by racism, fear, and hatred, and its leaders embody everything that Puebla's fighters opposed. The movement lords over us, determined to suppress our voices, erase our history, and suffocate democracy itself.
Make no mistake – this is an evil empire. It is a monstrous beast disguised as patriotism, bent on crushing the very values that make us who we are.
The time has come for us to recognize this enemy and to rally together against it. We must answer the call to resist, not with mindless rage, but with unyielding determination. So, unlike some, I won't be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with loud parties and fancy decorations. Instead, I'll be honoring the freedom fighters – Mexican and Black – who showed us the power of standing firm in the face of oppression.
Their struggle did not end in 1862. It lives on in the hearts and minds of those who refuse to bow down to hatred and fear. For us, the struggle continues today – and it's up to us to carry on the legacy they left behind.
Hashim Coates, a U.S. Navy veteran born and raised in Colorado, is a seasoned political strategist with a passion for social justice and equality.
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This article inspired me to consider how our history can guide us in the present, and how our choices today shape the future. Let us carry on the torch of resistance, and never forget the battles of those who came before us.
This article was written in commemoration of the Battle of Puebla, a significant moment in Mexican history. To learn more about the Battle and its impact on the American Civil War, check out the Battle of Puebla and The Battle of Puebla Against the French and Its Impact on the U.S. Civil War articles.
- The struggle for justice, equality, and freedom is deeply rooted in both American and Mexican history, transcending the superficial aspects of celebrations like Cinco de Mayo.
- In the face of white supremacy and oppression, we must recall the indomitable spirit of resistance showcased by the Mexican fighters at the Battle of Puebla and the Black fighters during the American Civil War.
- The victories of the oppressed in both the Battle of Puebla and the fight against slavery serve as a testament to the power of law, culture, schools, politics, business, and general-news in shattering bondage and forging a more just society.
- Today, as we navigate a landscape marred by racism, fear, and hatred, we are reminded of the empire that the oppressors built, disguised as patriotism and determined to stifle our voices and erase our history.
- Just as the resistance at Puebla Initiated a spark that lit the path to freedom, our actions today will shape the future, inspiring others to stand firm against hatred and fear.
- To carry on the legacy of those who fought for our freedom, we must recognize the empire's evil intentions and unite in a collective resistance, not with mindless rage but with unyielding determination.
