As an urban sociologist, this event is a wonderful example of community, culture and urban art coming together. The altar project is my way to educate people on the history, meaning and origins of Día de los Muertos. CYNTHIA V. DUARTE, PhD Director, Sarah W. Heath Center for Equality and Justice, Assistant Professor, Sociology
CREATING SOCIAL JUSTICE CELEBRATING DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS ALTARS ALTAR-MAKING CLASSES Latinos and Public Health Sociology of Death and Dying Power and Privilege
IN THE 1970S, A SOCIAL JUSTICE FOCUS WAS BROUGHT TO DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATIONS IN BOYLE HEIGHTS, LOS ANGELES. CAL LUTHERAN STUDENTS FROM THREE CLASSES WENT THERE LAST FALL TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF THESE CELEBRATIONS. STUDENT GROUPS CONSTRUCTED ALTARS TO COMMEMORATE A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE. THE ALTARS WERE DISPLAYED IN THE STUDENT UNION AS PART OF CAL LUTHERAN’S ANNUAL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION SPONSORED BY THE LATIN AMERICAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION.
