In the U.S., it’s tacos and tequila. In Mexico, it’s a point of pride. In France? It’s mostly a memory they’d like to leave in the attic.
In the latest episode of A Chicano in Paris, host Rudy Martinez unpacks the real story behind Cinco de Mayo—a tale that’s less about party hats and more about patriotism, resistance, and one humiliating defeat for the French empire. Delivered with Rudy’s signature blend of sharp humor, historical insight, and global perspective, the episode brings new life to the Battle of Puebla of 1862.
It wasn’t Mexican Independence Day (that’s in September), but it was the moment a ragtag Mexican army, under General Ignacio Zaragoza, stopped one of the most modern military forces in the world dead in its tracks. France had dreams of empire. Mexico had pride, grit, and the high ground.
This battle wasn’t just about strategy—it was a slap in the face to colonial ambition. And while Napoleon III thought he could replay his uncle’s imperial glory, he got schooled instead—first at Puebla, and later, through a costly occupation that fell apart once the U.S. Civil War ended and Washington remembered the Monroe Doctrine.
Rudy doesn’t just retell history—he connects it to today. Drawing a line from Mexico’s resistance to Ukraine’s modern-day struggle, the episode becomes more than a history lesson. It’s a meditation on what it means to stand your ground, no matter the odds.
And in true Chicano in Paris fashion, Rudy shines a light on the quieter corners of memory (and talks about himself in the third person, apparently). The French Foreign Legion may raise a toast to their fallen on May 5th, but France, as a whole? They’ve mostly ghosted the whole affair.
This isn’t just a story of a battle—it’s the anatomy of an underdog win. And Rudy reminds us that while France brought a Ferrari to a go-kart race and lost, Mexico brought heart, and that changed everything.
So next time you sip a margarita on Cinco de Mayo, take a moment to toast to the power of resistance, to the memory of General Zaragoza, and to the truth that sometimes the underdog doesn’t just survive—they win.
Enjoy!
Get full access to A Chicano In Paris at http://www.chicanoinparis.com/subscribe
