North Texas Resident Honors Hispanic Heritage through Celebration, Music, Faith
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by
Janae Rogers
McKinney, Texas – Alicia Delgado, a wife and mother who immigrated to the greater Dallas area from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 48 years ago to start her family, has seen the region grow from corn fields and creeks to the bustling, busy cities we see today. Despite the area’s rapid growth, Delgado says she cherishes the celebrations, food, and festivals committed to honoring the legacy and sacrifice of her Mexican-American Heritage.
“Through music, we stayed connected to our Hispanic culture here in Collin County,” Delgado says, describing the many festivals and activities her family performed and attended over the years.
“My husband Manuel came from a family with musical talent,” she says, explaining that he formed a musical group with his father and two brothers to play at family and social events for the greater Hispanic community.
“[He] played keyboard,” she says, “and a little accordion to integrate more into the Mexican American culture by playing more Tejano music. Dancing is a very strong tradition for Hispanics. We really like to dance and have a fun time with friends and family.”
Overcoming Language Challenges
But life hasn’t always been easy for the mother of two.
“At that time [1970s] everything was in English; even to go to the doctor, you had to bring an interpreter,” she recalls. “It took me a while to learn English because of my introverted personality. But my father taught us that challenges in our lives will always exist, that everything is achieved based on faith in God, dedication, and effort, and never, never give up. This is how our weaknesses are overcome.”
And overcome, she did.
Soon after she immigrated to the United States, Delgado committed to learning English to obtain her driver’s license and earn a highly rewarding job opportunity.
“I still remember that great challenge — Ay, Ay, Ay!” she reminisces. “The manual exam was no problem, but what cost me a huge effort to pass was the written exam. I prayed and studied hard and thanks to our Heavenly Father who enlightened my mind [and] gave me wisdom and knowledge, I passed the exam.”
Navigating Life’s Trials
Delgado’s faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has helped her and her family overcome many great trials in life, including the untimely death of her then seven-year-old son.
“August 31 marked the 25th anniversary of the death of our son Victor — a day that I will never forget,” she recalls. “After his tragic accident . . . I had to learn to cope with the trauma and grief.” Referring to the memory garden she created, Delgado says, “I found a place to communicate with the Lord during my grief journey. Our faith and trust in our Heavenly Father will help us to go through the storms in our daily lives.”
President Lyndon B. Johnson, a native Texan, first established Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, followed by President Ronald Reagan extending the celebration to 30 days from September 15 to October 15.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, September 15 is a significant date in Hispanic Heritage as it marks the independence day for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and 18, respectively.
For ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in North Texas, visit LocalProfile.com, VisitDallas.com or FortWorth.com and search “Hispanic Heritage Month.”
