#NoTacoFestMKE
- by: SURJ Milwaukee
- recipient: Michael Sampson, President of Swarmm Events & Kelsey Lawson, Vice President of Swarmm Events, Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Taco Fest, hosted by Swarmm Events, is scheduled for June 5 at the Harley Davidson Museum. This event, organized by white people, is an example of racism and harmful cultural appropriation in Milwaukee. Relying on stereotypes and the mocking of a culture guised as celebration, the creators of Milwaukee Taco Fest have refused to listen to concerns from the community and plan to continue holding their event.
In his piece titled, “Milwaukee Taco Fest; I’m Not Your Sidekick,” local Mexican-American chef Gil Amador-Licea writes, “When you have one third of Milwaukee’s area full of places selling tacos made by Mexicans, by businesses owned by Mexicans with a very strong inheritance, but a white dude who thinks it’s OK to organize a taco fest for other white people in a safe environment because they are scared of entering a “bad” neighborhood, all I can think of is Christopher Columbus “discovering” a place with people living there already but taking their knowledge and essence into a protected place. It is the guy saying “I’m not racist, I have a Mexican friend.”
Milwaukee is fortunate to be a city filled with diversity and culture, where residents can easily enjoy a variety of foods without needing to steal from others to create disrespectful entertainment. We refuse to support cultural appropriation in our city and will hold accountable those who do harm in this way.
Milwaukee Taco Fest, hosted by Swarmm Events, is scheduled for June 5 at the Harley Davidson Museum. This event, organized by white people, is an example of racism and harmful cultural appropriation in Milwaukee. Relying on stereotypes and the mocking of a culture guised as celebration, the creators of Milwaukee Taco Fest have refused to listen to concerns from the community and plan to continue holding their event.
In his piece titled, “Milwaukee Taco Fest; I’m Not Your Sidekick,” local Mexican-American chef Gil Amador-Licea writes, “When you have one third of Milwaukee’s area full of places selling tacos made by Mexicans, by businesses owned by Mexicans with a very strong inheritance, but a white dude who thinks it’s OK to organize a taco fest for other white people in a safe environment because they are scared of entering a “bad” neighborhood, all I can think of is Christopher Columbus “discovering” a place with people living there already but taking their knowledge and essence into a protected place. It is the guy saying “I’m not racist, I have a Mexican friend.”
Milwaukee is fortunate to be a city filled with diversity and culture, where residents can easily enjoy a variety of foods without needing to steal from others to create disrespectful entertainment. We refuse to support cultural appropriation in our city and will hold accountable those who do harm in this way.
