A celebration of life Pierce hosts virtual Day of the Dead

BY SEBASTIAN GONTES

T he Associated Students Organization and the MEChA de Pierce College club hosted a Día de Los Muertos celebration on Nov. 4, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. on Zoom.

More than 50 people virtually attended the event to commemorate the lives of deceased family members, celebrities and activists.

MEChA adviser and Chicano studies professor Angelita Rovero said when she was a student at Pierce, it was difficult to connect with the campus because there was no representation.

Now with this ceremony, she can inform others on how Día de Los Muertos is a celebration of life.

“It's not so much just death,” Rovero said. “It’s to celebrate the lives of those who passed on. For the most part, it is to celebrate our loved ones.”

Dean of Student Engagement Juan Carlos Astorga spoke about his late father.

“My father used to always say to me, ‘Mijo look for the gold in the sky,’” Astorga said. “Día de Los Muertos is an opportunity for us to turn back, to look back and remember the importance of who we have become, given the people who have played a role in our lives and are possibly no longer with us.”

LACCD Board of Trustee member Gabriel Buelna spoke about growing up in East Los Angeles and traveling to Mexico. He said he didn’t see altars celebrating Día de Los Muertos until he attended college, but that he saw them often while in Mexico.

“It goes against American norms, in terms of you are born and you go to heaven but you die,” Buelna said. “In Mexican culture we say ‘We’re communicating.’ Death is a transition and some people ask, ‘Do you really believe it?’ and I tell them yes I do.”

There were two Grammy winners in attendance who performed songs. Artist and activist Martha Gonzalez performed “Todo Lo Que Tengo,” the return of owning his pistol that murdered a 17-year-old.

In the nale, a mother (Kyla Graham) worries about her son’s (Norman Anthony atch) wardrobe in “Dressing” by Mona Mansour and Tala Manassah. It reveals an “involuntary and wicked dance” that mothers of Black children do to protect their children from harm.

Graham performs a heartbreaking monologue that shares the vulnerability Black men in America have confronted since the origin of this country. And despite a mother’s best e ort to dress their children in non-threatening clothing such as button down shirts, it’s just a useless shield.

Music starts to fade in, it’s Ella Fitzgerald’s “Strange Fruit” from 1954. Despite the decades that passed since the poem depicting the lynching of Black people was written, the harsh reality is that Black people are still in danger to this day.

It’s the most di cult pill to swallow, but LAPC eatre needs the audience to. Photos of mothers mourning the lives of their dead children because of racism and police brutality ll the screen: Emmett Till, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and George Floyd. ese were lives that were brutally ended and are still being protested for by people demanding justice through movements such as Black Lives Matter.

“Facing Our Truth: Short Plays on Trayvon, Race, and Privilege” is about the ugly reality that America tries to sweep under the rug: racism is alive and present.

“If the CCCAA had not approved this waiver, a lot of my players probably would not have played this year because it would not have made sense for them to waste a year of eligibility on what could end up being a five to seven game season,”

Harris said.

For 2021, teams had their upcoming schedules reduced by 30 percent. Harris talked about the importance of his players getting back on the field while retaining a year of eligibility.

“This shortened season will be beneficial because it will get players back into game like situations, allow them to hone their skills, give them the opportunity to be competitive against other teams and also gather film for potential recruiting,” Harris said.

Interim Athletic Director Susan Armenta wrote in an email that student-athletes are positively impacted by this decision.

“I think having the additional year of eligibility is positive for anyone. It's great to have the chance to prepare and build up conditioning to play this spring without any consequence and then have another season again when conditions are better,” Armenta wrote.

Armenta wrote that students transferring to a four-year will have to adjust and if they decide to stay, it is still uncertain whether NCAA will honor the eligibility changes.

She said if they have limited practice schedules, the focus should be on not winning titles but returning to fitness safely.

“Yes, it will be great to compete, but the way things have been going in LA County, we need to be grateful for the opportunity to play at all,” Armenta wrote. Armenta wrote that the Board is going to establish an opt-in/optout system for institutions to decide whether they compete based on county guidelines. She said the district will have the final say whether they have the capacity to implement protocols to get back on campus.

Men’s head basketball coach Charles White said in a phone interview that both incoming and returning players benefit from this season, not counting against their eligibility.

“With the incoming guys being able to have the time now to learn team plays, official game rules, and how to be good teammates from the returners who know how things are done, it makes the coaching staff's job that much easier,” White said.

“For the returning players it gives them more opportunities to better their skills to be noticed by coaches at the next level.”

The upcoming season will not have a state championship title for teams to play for, but for White that has never been the main goal for coaching his players.

“I told the guys that as much as I’m a winner and love to win games, my main goal is to get you guys the opportunity to play at a four year university and get your academics paid for,” White said.

Community college athletes have been working hard this year for a chance to play at the next level.

Wide receiver and captain, Robert Terry, is grateful that he has had this extra time to develop his skills to show off his hard work once the shortened season begins.

“When I get to step back on that field, I know because there are less chances now with less games that in order to earn a Division One scholarship that I have been working so hard for I have to show what kind of all around better player I have made myself since the last time I played,” Terry said in a phone interview. “I have to dominate every play with a dog mentality, it's eat or be eaten.” rfleisher.roundupnews@gmail.com

“Pillow Talk” and “Todo es de color.”

La Marisoul sang “Nunca Más” and “Todo Cambia.”

Muralist Levi Ponce spoke about paintings he’s created that are on walls throughout Los Angeles County.

His first mural is in Pacoima, California. It was made with limited resources and features actor Danny Trejo.

Ponce chose Trejo because after being released from jail, Trejo focused on building his acting career.

Ponce thought this was the perfect example of resilience to inspire his community in Pacoima.

“If you think you need a college degree, if you think you need funds, a scholarship, if you think you need a fiscal sponsor or non-profit, you don’t,” Ponce said. “You can start making a difference in your community today with what you have in your hands already.”