Oh No They Didn't: Leave our Sashes Alone

            A few weeks ago, the issue of whether Latino high school students could wear the symbolic “Latino” sash at graduation commencement was raised.  Apparently, there was a departmental “vote” where faculty at Merrill F. West High School in Tracy Unified School District decided only certain programs would be allowed to wear regalia representing their respective groups.  This vote meant Latino students could no longer wear their traditional “ethnic” sash at graduation commencement.

            Not so fast.  Stripping our students of the traditional Latino sash cannot happen in an email notification.  It cannot happen by a departmental vote.  And, it cannot happen without an uprising by students, parents, and community folk.  No sooner had the “Department Chair Decision” email been sent by the Principal of West High, local groups began rallying.  The District’s Diversity & Equity Committee members began circulating emails, making phone calls, and calling for an explanation.  Fortunately, we had Tracy Unified School District Trustee Walter Gouveia, and Mercedes Silveira-Gouveia, Chair of the California Latino Leadership Association, advocating on behalf of our Latino students.

            Who gets to wear the Chicano/Latino sash at graduation?  Apparently, lots of high schools allow their students to wear sashes.  In fact, in a quick Google search, I easily located dozens of local and national organizations whose niche market is producing and selling these sashes.  I did some additional research and found that nearly every public and private university in California allows their student body to wear the traditional sash. In many cases, the university provides the sash as a “gift” to students for their commencement, and hosts a commencement specifically for Latino students.

Stanford University – Nuestra Grad

University of Southern California – Chicano/Latino Graduate Celebration

Claremont University – Chicano/Latino Graduation

UC Berkeley – Chicano/Latino Graduation Celebration

UCLA – MEChA de UCLA Raza Graduation

Saint Mary’s College – Latino Graduate Celebration

And, they all provide Chicano/Latino sashes for their graduates.  Ahem.

            This new “rule” that seemed to appear “out of the blue” at West High School inspired me to do some research.  I was curious to know which of our local schools honored this tradition.  Fortunately, with social media, it was a five minute exercise.  Since most of our local district’s graduation commencements were held last weekend I was able to view an online photo montage of Tracy Unified School District.  Apparently, there was not a ban on wearing a multitude of sashes.  In fact, John C. Kimball High School, Tracy High School, and Merrill F. West High School students were attired, cloaked, draped, and otherwise sporting various regalia including leis, candy necklaces, hand-made decorative necklaces, tassels, and colorful stoles.

            I cannot comment as to why this issue was raised at Merrill F. West High School.  As a parent with two students who graduated from West High School a few years ago, I was saddened to learn our tradition was being threatened.  It is curious this issue was raised abruptly, within weeks of the graduation commencement.  What was the impetus that resulted in a departmental vote-and-decide process?  Why is such an important, political issue relegated to department chairs?  I did some digging, and apparently, it does not violate the “Dress Standards” in the 2013/2014 West High School Student Handbook.  In addition, the issue of graduation commencement attire is not addressed in any Board Policy or Administrative Regulation I was able locate.  Hmmm.

            So, I must ask:  Was there a series of hate crimes, targeting students wearing the Latino sashes?  Was there a political uprising that caused District administrators to question this practice?  Did last year’s graduation commencement exercises result in an altercation over the wearing of Latino sashes?  Was there a sudden surge in the amount of Latino graduates, causing a critical supply and demand issue for local silk retailers?  Or, did these colorful sashes cause District staff to classify them “gang related” colors?  Interestingly, one term did surface through discussions concerning our students wearing sashes:  dignified.  What does that mean, exactly?  If we are talking about “dignity” how are these traditional sashes undignified?  Who gets to decide this?  What criteria is used to assess dignity?  If the Chicano/Latino sashes are deemed undignified, does that mean candy sashes are somehow more dignified?  What about traditional Hawaiian leis?  Are they undignified?  Who gets to make that call?

            The good news is that our students were able to wear their traditional sash at last Saturday's commencement.  However, I am not certain whether all Latino students who wished to wear the sash were permitted.  My understanding is that only students who met some arbitrary criteria were allowed to wear a Chicano/Latino sash.  What type of criteria would meet the standard to allow students to wear a traditional Chicano/Latino sash?  Being Latino is not a program, club, or service.  You don't earn community service hours for belonging to a particular ethnic/cultural group.  Being Latino is an identity.  There are many Latino students who do not participate in MEChA at West High, or Latinos Unidos at Tracy High.  Are they excluded?  Does their lack of membership in a school-sponsored club disallow them to proudly wear a sash?

When Latino students (specifically Mexican-American) have the lowest educational attainment rates, are at greatest risk for dropping out of high school, and disproportionately attend community colleges versus traditional 4-year colleges, then it seems critical they be allowed to show their ethnic pride at such a milestone (graduation).  The visual image of the sash represents more than merely a symbol signifying graduation or identification as being "Latino."  It signifies pride, cultural authenticity, and empowerment to succeed.  Oh, and dignity.  It also represents the incredible obstacles our students have overcome in the K-12 system – to reach that important milestone.  This begs the question:  what is the harm of allowing our students to wear a sash that positively represents their cultural identity?

Wearing the sash is also an "artifact" of sorts for Latino families, being passed down generation-by-generation.  My mom made my sash for my undergraduate and graduate commencements.  She also made them for her grandchildren at their West High School commencement, and we will pass this along when our children graduate next spring at UC Santa Cruz and Harvard University.  In spring 2017, I will walk my Doctoral commencement at UC San Diego, and will proudly wear my Chicano/Latino sash during my hooding ceremony.  My husband, Arturo, wore his Chicano/Latino sash at his Juris Doctorate hooding ceremony at UC Berkeley.  Yes, it means that much.

In closing, please enjoy this photo of the 2011 Valedictorian at Merrill F. West High School in Tracy Unified School District.  While I may be biased because this is my daughter Gabriella, I do believe this young scholar appears very dignified sporting her Chicano/Latino sash.  As the first-ever Latina Valedictorian for this District, wearing her sash meant more than just a decorative feature.  It represented a victory.  For this reason, I urge all Tracy Unified School District parents, community members and residents to attend the next Board Meeting and let the Board of Trustees know how you feel about our tradition.  If you’d like to speak at a future meeting, the instructions are conveniently located here:

https://www.tracy.k12.ca.us/Documents/WelcometoaBoardMeeting2014.pdf

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Want to know more about this author?  Flight of the Quetzal Mama: How to Raise Latino Superstars and Get Them into the Best Colleges