sinidentidades:

For the past 115 years, the city of Laredo, Texas has celebrated something called the Washington’s Birthday Celebration. This celebration has become on of North America’s top 100 events to attend. The event is marked by a grand several mile-long parade with a variety of floats representing schools, local businesses, and politicians. It is also celebrated by having Laredo’s elite dress their children in garish clothing from past eras, complete with extravagant dinners and fashion shows. Doesn’t sound too terrible, right?

Well, one of the events leading up to the grand parade is called the Princess Pocahontas Pageant and Ball. Basically, some young rich kids sport some Native-inspired clothing in a fashion show, attend several dinners, and even have a part in the grand parade where they ride horses covered in deer skins and embellished saddles. 

There have been several open attacks of the Washington’s Birthday Celebration for this portion of the celebration from several local Native Americans, but they’ve fallen on deaf ears. The excuses the Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association gives is is that these kids are all of Mexican heritage or are of color, and it’s tradition to have this portion of the celebration. Somehow, these things make these foul appropriations of Native American cultures okay.

If you would like to help in the fight, here is some contact information where you can direct your concerns:

Washington’s Birthday Celebration Association^TM

1819 E. Hillside Road
Laredo, Texas 78041

Executive Director:

Lisa B. Morales
Phone: (956) 722-0589
Fax: (956) 722-5528
Email: wbca@wbcalaredo.org