Albuquerque Public Schools
Celebrating Our Diverse Roots
In her weekly message, Superintendent Blakey reflects on Hispanic Heritage Month.
I’m grateful to live in New Mexico, a vibrant place where diverse cultures are embraced, celebrated and viewed as assets. We live in a state with breathtaking sunsets, gorgeous mountains and amazing rock formations, but that’s just the backdrop.
Our state’s real beauty comes from the amazing people who have made it their home: our Native American families who have been here for more than a thousand years, our Spanish ancestors who began laying down roots here nearly 500 years ago, our Black families who also have a long history here starting with Esteban, an African Moor who came here in the 1500s, our Anglo families who came here as traders and settlers in the 1800s, and the Asian, Pacific Islander and myriad of other people who have settled here.
Our state’s vibrancy comes from the spectacular mix of cultures we enjoy, each with its own language, food, music and traditions, and each one deserving recognition for the richness it brings to our state’s incredible canvas. We kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month on Monday, and I’m happy for the opportunity to talk about my culture and share the many ways it’s enriched my life.
I want to start off by dispelling any idea that Hispanics are a monolithic group. We are as diverse an ethnicity as they come, with a variety of backgrounds, religions and viewpoints. Some trace their roots in New Mexico back to the 1500s, while others are more recent transplants. Some are liberal, while others are conservative. Some are deeply religious, while others are not. Some speak Spanish fluently, while others do not.
While I can’t define what it means to be Hispanic, I can share my background and what being Hispanic means to me.
My Hispanic roots come from my dad’s side of the family, the Duráns and Horcasitas, who built their lives in southern New Mexico. They came to the United States, worked hard, sacrificed and embraced education, laying the foundation for me to become superintendent of one of the largest school districts in the country.
Anytime a task becomes overwhelming, I think of the struggles they endured and overcame in Santa Clara, and I suck it up and keep moving forward. They taught me to be resilient and to keep going because hard work always pays off.
That work ethic is ingrained in my identity, but so is the food, the music and the language. For me, there’s nothing like a bowl of red chile with tortillas, or the uplifting sound of Mariachis or the beautiful Spanish language, which I wish I spoke better.
I’m also grateful for all of the role models who opened doors for me, people like civil rights activist César Chávez, legendary teacher Jaime Escalante and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. I count my grandfather Porfirio Durán among those heroes.
I’m proud of my Hispanic and Italian heritage because it has made me who I am. I embrace it, and I encourage every one of you to embrace your own culture and where you come from. Most importantly, I want all our students to feel proud of who they are and to have a strong sense of belonging within our school community. Our strength truly lies in our diversity.
Have a great weekend!