A crowd of over 50 De Anza students filled Hinson Campus Center Conference Room A on May 5. Surrounded by the Mexican flag, handmade colored ornaments, and burritos, Bill Ziegenhorn waited to educate students while they enjoyed beans and rice.

“Why do we celebrate Cinco De Mayo?” asked Ziegenhorn, who is a historian and instructor at Foothill College. “It’s real important to understand the history and roots of Cinco de Mayo.”

Taking a look back into history, Ziegenhorn spoke of Mexico’s struggle to find its place in the world after the country’s initial independence.

“Mexico was immediately embroiled after its independence … its loss in Texas, border fights never really had time to stabilize,” Zieghorn said. “In other countries they had time for peace after independence and also a time for economic recovery, but Mexico never had a humble beginning.”

Ziegenhorn spoke about the battle of Puebla.

“Mexican conservatives brought back Spain, England, and France for negotiation of Mexico’s debt … France never left upon their arrival.”

With his slide show presentation, Ziegenhorn emphasized that France brought its navy to expand its empire.

“On May 5, 1862 the battle of Puebla was won. This marks the first time in Mexican history where all classes and citizens alike stand against a superior navy and win,” Zieghorn said. Upper class, lower class, militia and regular workers all united.

“This is where you can see that Mexico gains a sense of nationalism through victory.”

France later went on to conquer Mexico and place an emperor of their choosing in power, which did not sit well with the United States.

Ziegenhorn said that the beginning of a friendship between liberal Mexicans and the United States grew, based on a common enemy, France.

“After the U.S. ended its civil war, it supported Juarez and his men in taking back Mexico which they did in 1867.”

After ending his history lesson, Zieghorn said that Cinco de Mayo is so popular here because the holiday evolved after U.S. immigration reform, equal rights movements and because it formed the union of Mexican-American culture.

Demonstrating that modern-day commercialism exploits Cinco de Mayo, Ziegenhorn started to break down stereotypes associated with the holiday. He showed slides of Coronas, Latin female models and lowrider vehicles.

“Part of being American is incorporating where you are from and who you are individually. This makes [the] American culture as we see in commercials,” Ziegenhorn said.

Upon Closing his lecture Ziegenhorn asked viewers, “Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo? The answer is, why do you choose to?”

The event was sponsored by Latina/o Heritage Events and Latina/o Empowerment at De Anza. Funding came from the De Anza Associated Student Body Senate.