On white people celebrating Día de los Muertos.
We’ve had some people, white or of a Latin@ heritage, approach me with questions about white/other non-Latin@ people celebrating Día de los Muertos. I’ve decided to address it in a post.
By and large, I’ve seen a few different types of these people.
The wannabes – people who’ve researched the holiday to some/great extent and are now trying to celebrate it their own way. They may have some or a lot of knowledge about the holiday, but are receiving it from secondhand sources and often, white authors.
Our opinion: This is troublesome. While it’s nice that, for once some white people aren’t looking at Día de los Muertos and saying “Ooh how savage/quaint” it’s a tradition that you’re raised with, one that people are still looked down upon in America for celebrating. DDLM is also celebrated in several different ways, and with secondhand information, a mixed, bastardized idea is probably what you’re celebrating.
A further troubling concept is – why do you want to celebrate it? For what reason does a white person feel the need to adopt the tradition of other cultures that previously, white people tried to stamp out? What could you possibly gain from it?
Can you evaluate your reasons and come up with one aside from: it’s really cool, it’s really fascinating, I just want in on the fun, etc. etc.? If not, stay away.
If your reason is “I want to honor my dead too!” then there are plenty of ways to do so without putting yourself under the Día de los Muertos umbrella. You do not need to insert yourself into a sacred holiday to celebrate your passed loved ones.
The invitees – people who’ve been invited to observe/partake in DDLM activities by a Latin@ person. This can be learning about it in your Spanish class, viewing friends’ altars, or watching the festivities at night.
Our opinion: This is great. We certainly don’t want people to be shut off from each other culturally. There’s not a problem with observing what’s going on in the holiday simply because you find it interesting – you’ll often find people are quite open to sharing their heritage if you’re respectful about it and if you don’t feel the need to insert yourself into the space.
People who truly appreciate Día de los Muertos understand the deep significance behind it. There is no reason that you cannot respect and appreciate it from five feet away.
Do not insist upon inserting yourself in a sacred holiday simply to further your own status or self-image. Do not trivialize Día de los Muertos by reducing it to simple facepaint. Do not perpetuate stereotypes and one-dimensional images of a rich and varied tradition.
Have some respect.
Further reading:
Stop ruining Dia de los Muertos.
Dia de los Muertos and You.