Dia de los muertos @Hollywood Forever: Extra Credit

As one of the events that were promoted as local LA events and the fact that Carla Morrison and La Santa Cecilia were going to come and play at this venue made me really want to come! The event itself was well decorated, nicely organized, and well overpriced. There was definitely a lot going on to keep people entertained with the various face painting booths, the concert line-up, decked out altares, danzantes, food vendors, art galleries, and various bars.

Understanding that this day holds special tradition I found that this event was quite offensive. Taking away from a celebration to commemorate our ancestors and those close to us that have passed and instead became an excuse to come together to see who can get the most drunk and vaguely confusing this day of honor with Halloween. Throughout the night I often came across a white person here and there dressed up in their Halloween costume or I would also hear the occasional comment about looking ethnic.

I did notice a couple of trends in the event. This event all in all is to cater to a more wealthy and perhaps white audience. The easy to follow series didn't really engage in what the event is about but was rather a costume booze party that gave an opportunity for vendors to mark up everything. It starts with the 20 dollar entry fee and then realizing you probably can't get your face painted cause it's 30 dollars a pop followed by the feeling of hunger too see that a plate of 2 pupusas are 10 dollars. Walking around afterwards, I did notice that majority of the people of color that attended were the ones without their faces painted while the decked out costumes and face paint were white folks. I really wanted to paint my face but I was too hungry so I bought the pupusas instead.

Best of part of the night: Carla Morrison came on stage to start her performance. Tears flowed and I started vibing with the beats and her soothing voice. Giving us the reminder to celebrate those that have gone on and as well as celebrate the presence that we had with one another. Wish she could of done a duet with La Santa Cecilia but I'm sure there will be another opportunity for that another day. As this sacred day starts becoming more and more widely accepted I wonder what sort of factors are at play when often I interpret white corporate america's message to the Chican@ Latin@ community is that they want our culture and our practices but they don't want us. It's scary to think that this will be just another opportunity to seek profit, sell booze, and continue the legacy of appropriation.