Raina Vale
At 28, Raina finds inspiration dwelling along the border where the US and Mexico converge. With a flair for design, content creation, and the written word, Raina crafts narratives that blend everyday culture with her own adventures. Her writing dives into relatable subjects, touching on feelings and relationships, self-care and emotions, as well as the allure of beauty and the ever-shifting online world.
In The Community
Move over Mariah Carey, we’ve got cumbias and salsa. Songs that inspire those feet and sway those hips are a holiday staple in most Latino households. Then, as problematic faves tend to do, our brains forget about the rhythm momentarily and process what’s coming through our ears and uh…what did they just say? We’re bailando to what, exactly??
Let’s just say that some of these Salsa songs’ lyrics don’t quite match the mood of the fiesta season and a few cross the line into questionable or simply outdated narratives.
Yet there we are, dancing up a storm. Let’s take a look…
Rebelión by Joe Arroyo
First up is an all-time fave: Rebelión, also known as no le pegue a la negra. Joe brings a rich rhythm to a song about slavery. You’re suddenly screaming “ESCLAVITUD PERPETUA!!” like Joe isn’t crooning to some seriously hype beats while talking about how a white man beat an enslaved African woman and her husband sought revenge. Coquito, anyone? Awk.ward.
El Gran Varón – Willie Colon
A heartbreaking story about a trans woman disowned by her father with the woman later dying (presumably) from AIDS. This salsa song It’s a total banger until you realize that you’re happily dancing to a Trans Woman being rejected by her own father, then you stop and question if you should be crying instead. Not a very merry holiday mood inspired by this one.
El Preso – Fruko y sus Tesos
Life in prison shouldn’t be danceable like this, but it is, and tbh what can we do about it?
La Muerte – El Gran Combo
We literally are dancing to the beat of the inevitability of death. There’s no sugar-coating it. It talks about death. And we dance to it. During Christmas. But we dunno, maybe rightly so? What’s the saying? Death and taxes? We suppose that’s true during the holidays as well.
Llorarás – Oscar D’León
A song about the pain of someone cheating on you and hoping for their cosmic karma. And he sings it in the most cheerful tone!! We suppose revenge can be cheery.
We won’t stop dancing along to these songs tho, they were made to be danced to, and tbh, we’re here for it. What other holiday debbie downers are out there? Tag us at @theluzmedia.
Latinx Veterans Sacrifice for their country, but their Country often Casts them Aside
Veterans in the U.S suffer an inordinate amount of injustices, some of them unfathomable, at the hands of the government they swore to protect. From lack of healthcare to homelessness, the list is long and well documented. When it comes to the Latino veteran population, more specifically Latina veterans, these struggles are oftentimes worse, and because the Latina military and veteran population is still a small percentage of the overall veteran population, their specific struggles are largely ignored.
Misogyny, Sexual Harassment and Assault within the military
In the tragic case of Vanessa Guillen’s murder at Ft. Hood, her disappearance wasn't a priority for the military or the media for months. It took the family’s ceaseless efforts to finally get the attention of the media which then pressured the military to actively investigate Guillen’s disappearance until her body was ultimately found.
Less than two years later at the same Army base, Private Ana Basaldua Ruiz died under questionable circumstances that were ultimately ruled as death by suicide. Ruiz's mother Alejandra Ruiz Zarco stated in an interview with Telemundo that her daughter had told her a few weeks prior to her death that an Army superior was harassing her and that she allegedly received constant sexual advances from other people.
The loss of young Latinas in the military reignited a long-standing discussion about the need for systemic changes within the military to solve a problem that has always existed: the misogynistic and highly toxic sexist military culture. Many Latina and women Veterans have spoken out about their own experiences when serving, and how the harassment they endured made their service to their country even more difficult.
Many put their trauma on display and told stories of sexual harassment, humiliation, and gender-based discrimination. Their voices, while important and courageous, continue to be silenced and ignored. Little research and testimonials exist specifically about Latinas in the military.
Inclusion
Despite the challenges, Latine veterans have frequently raised their voices to demand better treatment. Latinos make up about 16 percent of active duty service members, and Latino veterans make up about 6% of the veteran population in the US and many have spoken out about how they’re still not treated as Americans, even after serving their country.
Latino Civil Rights organization American G.I. Forum fought a legal battle for Latinx veterans demanding that Latine veterans receive what their white counterparts received by default: GI benefits, including medical care, education funding, as well as equity in schooling and employment. To add insult to injury, there are hundreds of veterans who have been deported forcing many to live in exile without medical care for the injuries they sustained while they were in service to the United States.
Culture
Many Latinos join the military to feel a sense of accomplishment because they are protecting their families and making them proud. Studies have shown, however, that Veterans often struggle to adjust to their family life once they’ve returned from service, and while this can be a difficult adjustment for anyone of any race, the significance for Latinos who tend to have very close family dynamics is undeniable.
Veterans often struggle with issues such as PTSD, depression, and other mental health issues. This is further compounded in a community that already has serious issues regarding mental health. Mental health in the Latine community, especially amongst men, is highly stigmatized so seeking help can also be more complicated for a Latine veteran because of cultural stigmas and mores. These issues often lead to domestic violence and other types of violence. For many Latine people, family is at the root of everything, and facing these struggles proves incredibly difficult.
Will it get better?
There has been an increased amount of advocacy for veterans in recent years, from high profile celebrities like Jon Stewart dedicating entire episodes of his shows to the topic to media covering the issues they face with more scrutiny, to Congress actually increasing support and benefits for veterans, the signs are there.
With a government so willing to ship people off to war, it makes sense that only 17% of Congress has actually served. Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) recently released a book that details his time in the “Lima Unit,” the hardest-hit Marine unit during the Iraq war. It’s at least one more sign that veterans will one day get more than a salute and a thank you a few times a year.
Sweet and Savage: Exploring the Cake Smashing Ritual of La Mordida
The Mexican tradition of smashing the birthday person's face into their birthday cake is known as "La Mordida," which translates to "The Bite." This playful and messy custom is a popular way to celebrate birthdays in Mexico. But where did this tradition come from, and is it popular?
Mexican actress Salma Hayek is probably the most high-profile ambassador of the tradition having posted about it on social media a few times, and even teaching her “Eternals” co-star Angelina Jolie about the tradition.
The origins of the "La Mordida" tradition aren’t very well known, but it’s widely accepted that the practice has a deeply rooted place in Mexican celebrations. There are all kinds of theories of where it may have come from. One is that it may have been influenced by indigenous traditions, such as the Aztec and Maya civilizations, which had their own unique ways of celebrating special occasions. In these ancient cultures, rituals and ceremonies often involved elements of humor, playfulness, and sometimes even a bit of mischief.
Another theory is that "La Mordida" may have been influenced by the European custom of shoving the birthday person's face into the cake, believed to have been brought over by Spanish conquistadors during the colonization period. There isn’t much data to corroborate this one, so this theory is as good as any.
However, putting cake on people’s faces or heads in some European customs do have historical roots. Ancient Roman wedding ceremonies were finalized by breaking a cake of wheat or barley over the bride's head as a symbol of good fortune, according to the food studies journal Gastronomica. This practice could have a connection to the tradition of smashing just-married people’s faces into their wedding cakes but unless that custom made its way to Spain, then Latin America, it’s hard to make the definitive connection to the Mordida we see today.
It's important to note that while "La Mordida" is a popular and cherished tradition in Mexico, it’s not without its critiques. The extent to which it is carried out can vary from one celebration to another, and many people choose not to include it in their birthday festivities finding it distasteful or rude.
The most recent mordida Instagram post by unofficial La Mordida ambassador Salma Hayek featured her elderly father’s face being pushed into his birthday cake with an excruciatingly slow response from him in getting his face out.
With over 1900 comments on the post, many had their critiques, and also their questions. There are many who disagree with the tradition calling it crude and outdated but more who happily participate in the custom.
How does La Mordida work?
During a birthday party in Mexico, a cake is presented for the birthday person. Just like in many other parts of the world, the guests gather around the cake while singing a birthday song, in this case, "Las Mañanitas" or the traditional Mexican birthday song. Before the birthday person blows out the candles, they make a silent wish while the guests sing.
After the candles are blown out, guests start chanting, “mordida, mordida, mordida!” The idea is to take a "bite" of the cake but instead, guests push the birthday person’s face into the cake. This is often done by a friend or a family member who seizes the opportunity for a surprise attack.
As the birthday person's face gets covered in cake, there’s laughter and cheering. It's all in good fun, and everyone enjoys the spectacle - except sometimes the birthday person.
The Tradition Continues
Sometimes the pushing of the face into the cake can be overly aggressive, and the tradition has even resulted in accidents. In 2022 a woman reported that her friend nearly lost an eye after her face was shoved into a cake being held together by wooden stakes. Another birthday person's face didn't quite make it into the cake.
#Viral | \u00a1Cuidado al dar mordida al pastel! Mujer casi pierde un ojo durante su fiesta pues fue empujada por los invitados al dar mordida al pastel y... \u00a1Sorpresa! \n\nEn la pasteler\u00eda le hab\u00edan agregado palillos para unir los pisos del pastel y nunca notificaron a la cliente.— (@)
tortazo de cumpleaños (FAIL)youtu.be
There are examples all over the internet of when it's not dangerous and instead, it's just a hilariously good time, with some birthday people just accepting the inevitable and doing it themselves.
chava embarrada de pastelyoutu.be
Mordida Pastelyoutu.be
The tradition of "La Mordida" is lighthearted and is meant to bring joy and laughter to the celebration. It's a way for the birthday person and their guests to share a memorable and amusing moment during the party. While it might not be suitable for every birthday celebration, it's a fun and unique custom that many Mexicans embrace to make their special day even more entertaining.