How Unity Can Change the Mexican-American Narrative

At the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF), we have one mission: to change the narrative of Mexican Americans through film, education, and cultural celebration. In times of crisis – like what we’re witnessing right now in Los Angeles - this mission becomes more urgent than ever.

Across the city, peaceful protests have erupted in response to heightened immigration enforcement, ICE raids, and inflammatory political rhetoric. Families are being torn apart. Youth are afraid to walk home from school. And yet, amidst this pain, a powerful truth emerges: our greatest strength is our unity.

This isn’t just a political issue – it’s a cultural one. These raids and policies attack Latinos, primarily Mexican-Americans, our humanity, and the image of who we are.

But here’s the truth: we are more than headlines. We are more than statistics. We are people rooted in strength, dignity, and creativity.

Film As a Unifying Force

At MACEF, we use film to tell the truth of our communities. Not the distorted one too often told by the media, but the real one. The one filled with love, hard work, joy, and resilience.

Unity starts with understanding, and stories build that understanding. When we see ourselves reflected on screen, we feel connected. And when others see our humanity, change begins.

Why Unity Is Everything

In this moment of tension and fear, division is exactly what those in power hope for. But we’ve seen this before. We’ve lived through it, and we have risen before. For over 200 years, Mexican-Americans have been targeted negatively, and we still stand strong.

Unity means amplifying each other’s voices.

Unity means to stand in support of one another despite differing experiences. 

Unity means celebrating our culture, not hiding it.

Unity means creating space for dialogue, storytelling, and healing.

Unity means working together with our Latin-American brothers and sisters and supporting their needs.

We are not powerless. We are powerful when we act together. 

Unity isn’t just about standing side by side. It’s about moving forward together, driven by a shared purpose and commitment to change the narrative.

At MACEF, we believe that the stories we tell today will shape the justice we achieve tomorrow. Let’s stay united and keep creating.