Marco Joven Domínguez - Story of Us
RAZA’s mission for the past 50 years of its existence has been to create “space, visibility, and community for Mexican students at Harvard University since 1972.” As part of this mission, RAZA, its Executive Board, and general members aspire, and are determined, to define our Mexican roots on Harvard’s campus. This involves standing in solidarity with all who seek to preserve their culture and heritage, collectively contributing to a “spirit of unity and a sense of community by supporting each other through every possible means.” In reaffirming our fundamental principles as Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA, we recognize that “la unión hace la fuerza” (unity makes strength).
Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA: Past, Present, and Future:
Past: In 1972, Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA was founded by a group of 14 Mexican/Mexican-American students and 1 Puerto Rican student to serve as a social support group in a moment in time where no organizations existed for Latine students at Harvard. Since its founding, RAZA has served as a safe haven for Mexican and Mexican-American students, though it was also founded on values of advocacy, as the group participated directly in the United Farm Workers movement in its earliest years, and it continues to embody community and activism through its work after 50 years. However, 50 years later, the media has begun to play a vital role in the “public narrative” of organizations, businesses, and the like. RAZA, among other student-run university organizations, battles with (1) effective manners to leverage its media platforms to create and sustain a strong “public narrative,” and, in turn, (2) succeeding in its mission of creating “space, visibility, and community for Mexican students at Harvard.”
Present: In the fall of 2022, Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA celebrated its 50th-year anniversary through a 50th Anniversary Gala, celebrating the presence, accomplishments, and hard work of Mexican and Mexican-American students at Harvard. RAZA brought together Harvard’s Mexican student body population for an evening of homemade, traditional Mexican gastronomy, traditional Mexican snacks, guest speakers (such as faculty and alumni), and performances (with songs and poetry by Mexican students, and music by Harvard’s mariachi group on campus). Even after 50 years of visibility on campus, Harvard-Radcliffe RAZA and the Mexican population on campus continue to face a lack of support from the university. All of Harvard’s university officials were invited to attend RAZA’s milestone celebration; however, unfortunately, not one official was in attendance, aside from our faculty guest speakers. Also in the fall of 2022, RAZA welcomed Los Tigres del Norte to Harvard, a renowned Mexican norteño band that has been named “the most influential regional Mexican group” by Billboard magazine, and “the genre’s greatest statesmen” by the New York Times. Similarly, Harvard officials did not attend this significant event, and it revealed to RAZA how little the institution is willing to “show up” for us amid monumental moments for the Mexican community at Harvard. Nevertheless, RAZA continues to do what we can to support our Mexican student body through “mesas” (social events), parties, and culturally relevant fundraising events. Even if acquiring the institutional support we want remains a struggle, we must continue to leverage unity to make the strength we want for RAZA.
Future: In the next 50 years, our current President, Leo Barrera ‘24 envisions a Harvard that “increases presence [for Mexican students] on campus” to the extent that RAZA has the opportunity to “foster relationships between freshmen, seniors, and everybody.” Barrera acknowledges that, currently, RAZA does not have the privilege of “failing and trying stuff out and it not fully working out” because of a lack of financial support and capital, and we, as RAZA, envision a future where Mexican students have the financial resources to actualize all of our ideas, without the worry of debt or lack of funding for other events. In 50 years, we envision a RAZA that has gotten as close as we can to meeting our mission, and striving toward new, equally significant goals.
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