Talk by Professor Mark Schafer Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 12:30-1:45pm Campus Center Third Floor 03-3540 **Lunch Provided!!**
Professor Mark Schafer will explore the complex history behind this often-misunderstood holiday. Rather than Mexico’s Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces defeated a larger French army in Puebla. Learn about the political tensions between Mexico and France, the battle’s lasting symbolic power, and how the holiday evolved in the United States into a celebration of Mexican American culture, identity, and resistance. Join us to rethink the myths and rediscover the history!
Organized by the Latin American & Iberian Studies Department
