I honestly don’t even know where to start. I won’t ask how the idea of a “Mexican” themed party came about, and I won’t ask why nobody thought to object to such an insensitive idea. I won’t ask how one’s ego could be so big as to think there wouldn’t be repercussions from such blatant ignorance and racism.

I will not ask questions, instead I will be blunt:

I did not attend the party, I did not see the costumes and supposed “brown face” in person. I saw the aftermath on twitter, and a tweet that invited others to join the “cleaning ladies.” I did not see an email from Baylor with a response and a plan of action, rather I found a tweet from Dr. Kevin Jackson clearly stating the difference between on-campus and off-campus.

I am hurt and insulted and furious.

There is so much wrong with mocking and scorning the lives of Mexicans. Do not use the lives of actual, living-breathing human beings as an excuse for debauchery. Do not say that you are appreciating a culture when you are degrading and humiliating the people who are proud of their heritage. By embracing the stereotypes of the Mexican culture, you are being offensive and purposely being cruel to the people who proudly own their jobs. They are getting paid for working hard and doing jobs you could consider "beneath you."

In the simplest of terms, you are being a bully and the victims are unable to properly defend themselves. Their lives cannot be a joke to you and this party is not a joke to me. I do not think that I am overreacting or being too sensitive, just as I am hoping that ignorance played a larger role in the making of this party than hatred. Ignorance can be solved with education, and class is finally in session.

Start learning that other people actually matter and that their lives are not a costume for you to don in the spirit of Cinco De Mayo.

My culture is not a costume.