Diez y Seis celebration at Riverside Campus

The Diez y Seis de Septiembre Festival, hosted by ACC's Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS) and the Latino/Latin American Studies Center, "El Centro", was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 16, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Riverside Campus.

"Hosting the festival helps the CPPPS fulfill its mission to identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures," Associate Director of CPPPS Carla Jackson, said in an e-mail.

Jackson lauded the festival as an example of the diversity of cultures attending ACC.

"Riverside Campus was chosen to host the event because of the high number of Latinos/ Latinas who attend the campus and the rich, cultural heritage they bring," Jackson explained in an e-mail.

Diez y Seis de Septiembre is the celebration of Mexico's Independence from Spain. The celebrations held throughout Mexico and the U.S. commemorates the day, Sept.16, 1810, the day that Father Miguel Hidalgo declared Mexico's independence and launched the Mexican War of Independence from Spain.

Admission to the ACC event was free, and open to the public. This was the third annual Diez y Seis celebration at ACC. The event was celebrated at the state capital for 28 years before it was moved to ACC's Riverside Campus. State Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, relocated the festival to ACC when he retired.

"I think it's an important event to acknowledge because so much of Texan(s') history is rich with Mexican culture," said Dr. Frank de la Teja, first state historian of Texas, professor at Texas State University, and a key speaker at the event.

Lively music by Johnny Degollado and the Conjunto Band, Los Tres Amigos and the Pepe Mariachi Group, and Boca Abajo impressed the crowd, as did Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklórico.

"I know there are students of Mexican descent studying at ACC right now. I think they will be proud to have this event commemorate their heritage," Dr. Teja said.