¡Latinos Unite!

Photo Courtesy of Orange Public Library

“Mama, when can we get churros?”

“Mijo [a Spanish word, meaning “son”], it is 10 in the morning, you have to wait until at least after lunch.”

A mother, son, and about ten other people clamored outside the Orange Public Library & History Center on Saturday, May 21st to visit, “Celebrate Latino Pride,” the opening of the Latino heritage and festivities for the conclusion of the Latino Americans: Shared Orange Heritage series.

The celebration of the Latino American community had tours for the Cypress Street School, a landmark of desegregation of Latinos in schools, and the Emigdio Vasquez mural "El Proletariado de Aztlan."

Other festivities included a mariachi (traditional Latino music) band, orxata (horchata), Spanish music in loud speakers, and of course churros. Both the tours and festivities were free.

While waiting for the center to open, speakers abruptly played Spanish music that made the group of people turn, clap, and “woo” in front of the Community Room in the Orange Public Library & Historical Center. The room had elegant white wallpaper and antique wooden shelves that held various books and podiums with Latino artifacts.

Amidst the clapping and “wooing,” the library doors opened and a docent greeted each guest with a friendly smile and a warm “welcome.”

“It’s so great to have us Latinos come together today to celebrate our pride as Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, us all! Well, the few of us that are here, ha-ha” said Isabella Garcia, a smiley and eccentric member of the Latino community.

Isabella Garcia and her husband, Franco Garcia, went to “Celebrate Latino Pride” exhibit to expose their 8 year-old daughter, Estrella Garcia, of their family history. The Garcia’s were not the only family there to celebrate their heritage, a family of six- A husband of a mother, their two children (one boy, one girl), the children’s aunt and their grandmother. The family often giggled and made jokes about the outfits the people in the photographs wore.

The exhibit was followed with horchata and churros on a white tablecloth. There were many, so a second helping was encouraged and gladly accepted.

On a side note, the mother previously mentioned ultimately allowed her son to have a churro before lunch. They were just too irresistible.

Mingling in the Orange Library carried on until noon, when the mariachi band began their set.

“I’m surprised more people showed up!” said a lone women who arrived at event opening.

A clutter of about 40 people gathered around a courtyard during their second song of their set. Young children around the ages of five and six hopped and shook their hips to the music. Their guardians quickly followed their lead and began to move their feet and swing their hips. Grumbling laughter and squeals began to raise in volume and the crowd was glazed with smiles as they danced to the beat.

At about 3 PM, people began to make their way to their cars and less and less people arrived at the celebration.

“We had a great time, I think we Latinos need celebrations of our history once in a while to remind us of who we are and really own it,” said Shelly Camarena, an avid visitor of Orange Library.

• The Orange Public Library & History Center received a $10,000 programming grant for Latino Americans: 500 Years of History by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• Grant funds were used to present the documentary and a variety of programs highlighting the contributions of Latino Americans to the City of Orange.

• Some events leading to this final celebration were “Desegregation in California: Local Roots," which explored the history of segregation in Orange and the efforts of a local El Modena family whose participation in the landmark Mendez et al. v Westminster et al. court case led to desegregation of schools in California on April 28, 2016.

• January 14, 2016, the "Chicano Art and Expression in Orange" focused on the art of local Chicano artist Emigdio Vasquez, who grew up in the Cypress Street Barrio in the City of Orange.

Hours and exhibits of Orange Public Library & Historical Center vary. Check website for details.

http://www.cityoforange.org/depts/library/