"Dia de los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead" is an ancient Mexican celebration for families to reconnect, remember and celebrate the lives of deceased ancestors.
Juan Javier Pescador and Estrella Torrez have brought this tradition to Michigan State University, but made it a public celebration including the Department of History, the MSU Museum, the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities and several student organizations.
In the United States, Mexican communities have turned "Day of the Dead" into a celebration of Latino cultures that creates an opportunity to bring the community together and raise awareness of issues affecting the lives of people in current times. With this focus, MSU dedicated its "Day of the Dead" celebration to victims of homophobia.
Prior to coming to MSU, Torrez was a faculty member at the University of New Mexico. In Albuquerque, there was a thriving cultural community that celebrated "Day of the Dead." When Torrez moved to MSU to be an assistant professor with RCAH, she wanted to bring that spirit with her.
"Dr. Pescador and myself, and a few other individuals around campus, began this event," Torrez said. "And each year it grows and grows."
This year the event included the Department of History, the MSU Museum, RCAH, the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions, LGBT Resource Center and more.
Pescador worked on an installation in the MSU Museum dedicated to the victims of homophobia. The art installation was inspired by two different influences: the traditional artistic renditions of "Day of the Dead" installations in Chicano and Latino cultures and the memory of those who were victimized because of their gender, orientation and sexual identity.
Pescador also involved his class on the history of Mexican Americans in the United States in the installation. Students participated in research of "Day of the Dead" in the United States, and also provided information for spectators of the event.
This year, on Nov. 1, the program featured a speech by Nusrat Ventimiglia, from Equality Michigan, a screening of "Just Because I am" a documentary on homophobia and youth and a viewing of the ofrenda (offering) installation, "Maxtlacihuatl Tlamanalli."
The group then traveled from the museum to the RCAH Theater to watch a performance of traditional Aztec dance and listened to a speech by Chris Rabideau from Winsdor-Pride.