The Chicago Minute is back and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This episode captures the animated experience of the Mexican Independence Day Parade. 

There were more than 400,000 participants on Saturday celebrating the annual parade in Little Village, according to ABC 7.

Each float followed the theme “Tu Mexico, Tu Chicago” and represented a different state in Mexico. This year celebrated the power, prosperity and success that Mexican Americans have achieved. 

Alivio Medical Center brought the culture of Oaxaca, wearing traditional dresses woven with vibrant red fabrics and feminine patterns to honor the hardworking women of Mexico’s villages.

Parade-goers display their Oaxaca culture through traditional woven dresses. Photo by Isabel Perkinson.

The Oaxacan dresses symbolized the women’s strength used to support their community since Oaxaca is Mexico’s third poorest state.

“They have curanderas, which are the women who work in the villages, and they promote health and education,” Gabriela Gutierrez, the center’s program manager, said. 

Hispanic communities can find affordable healthcare at Alivio and their medical centers located in Pilsen, Berwyn and Little Village.

The traditional colorful dresses uplifted the women of Alivio in the parade, and many other participants wore bold choices like the Mexican flag draped around their backs as a cape. 

A vendor serves traditional Mexican street food at the parade. Photo by Isabel Perkinson.

While some were dancing through the parade like the Ballet Folklorico de Chicago or waving their flags, Brandon Jaimes from the Chicago Liberation Center (CLC) was promoting another cause desperate for freedom.

Jamies spent the celebratory day flyering for a petition to lift the Cuban embargo, which prevents American companies from doing business with Cuba along with tourism, and to remove the island from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

“That was our hope that people celebrating the independence and revolution of Mexico would also be excited to support another revolutionary government that is fighting against U.S. imperialism,” Jamies said. 

The CLC works towards building power from the bottom up and is a working-class organization that supports oppressed communities in Chicago. They follow the slogan of “Educate, Agitate and Organize” which can be universal in spaces fighting for unheard voices. 

The abundance of Mexican flags display Little Village’s pride for Mexican Independence. Photo by Isabel Perkinson.

To see more of Latino pride and feel the energy of multi-generations sharing their culture, watch our recent episode of The Chicago Minute and experience the passion of Mexico.

Header by Rafa Villamar