Stories of migration from some of the best young journalists in Mexico, Central America and the United States
Imelda Robles and Devin Browne reporting from Mexico
The fiesta quinceañera is the traditional coming of age party for girls in Mexico, a lavish affair featuring ritual dances, big dresses, and even horses. It's a symbol of purity, of family values, and social cohesion. At least, that's how the mother of Kimberly remembers it from her own childhood in Mexico. Now, the family is pouring weeks of work and thousands of dollars into their own daughters Quinceaños in their home in Phoenix. Back in Mexico, many girls have moved on, preferring a trip to Europe or foregoing the party altogether. But in this report, made on the frontlines of a planning for Kimberley's big day, we find nostalgia leads many migrants to recreate memories of home that never really existed.
Sept. 8, 2015
A few years ago, MTV Tres, the branch of MTV targeting Latino viewers, aired an episode of their popular reality show Quiero Mis Quinces that featured a bubbly, Lady-Gaga-loving girl named Jackeye, from East Los Angeles. Jackeye tells her mom one day while they're shopping that she has an idea of how she can celebrate her quince, or 15th birthday, and celebrate her heritage all at once.
"We're Mexican," she says, and having a traditional quinceaera. And what better way to show my roots than to do a baile Azteca [for my] grand entrance?
What made this choice surprising to …
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