05/05/2026
Cinco de Mayo references the 1862 Battle of Puebla, where Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza led his forces to victory against a larger French army.
“It was an unexpected and meaningful victory, especially as a moment of resistance, but it did not define the nation in the same way independence did,” says Sehila Mota Casper, executive director and co-founder of Latinos in Heritage Conservation.
Independence doesn't happen in a day. It is an ongoing struggle between the oppressor and the oppressed. It takes courage, determination, and sacrifice to be victorious during these battles. Let us continue to learn the real history of our world.
