As the president of the United States continues to fan the flames of bigotry toward Mexicans, here comes Cinco de Mayo. It's a holiday that has too often allowed people to indulge in racist stereotypes ---- not to mention inaccurate history. We encourage you to read Sudie Hofmann's "If We Knew Our History" column, "Rethinking Cinco de Mayo," to learn a more truthful, and useful history.

By Sudie Hofmann

I recently came across a flier in an old backpack of my daughter's: Wanted: Committee Chairs for this Spring's Cinco de Mayo All School Celebration. The flier was replete with cultural props including a sombrero, cactus tree, donkey, taco, maracas, and chili peppers. Seeing this again brought back the moment when, years earlier, my daughter had handed the flier to me, and I'd thought, "Oh, no."

The local K-6 elementary school's Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) was sponsoring a stereotypical Mexican American event. There were no Chicana/o students, parents, or staff members who I was aware of in the school community and I was concerned about the event's authenticity. I presumed the PTSA meant well, and was attempting to provide a multicultural experience for students and families, but it seemed they were likely to get it wrong.