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National Hispanic Heritage Month

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It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15th to October 15th, we celebrate the boundless contributions and influences of both Hispanic and Latino Americans on our society.

  • Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country.
  • Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.*

Take this opportunity to celebrate your own personal heritage or to learn more about the ways Hispanic and Latino Americans have shaped, strengthened and enriched our country through culture, politics, industry, food, music, art and more. Here are just a few of our suggestions — look online and in your community to find special events, exhibits and performances.

The Arts

Frida Kahlo

Many are already familiar with this Mexican visionary and her iconic work centered on Mexican and indigenous culture as well as her feminist depictions of the female experience. Kahlo lived an incredible life full of pain, vibrancy and passion, all of which are reflected in her impressive oeuvre which you can explore here.

Mario Torero

Born in Peru, the Chicano artist, activist and muralist moved to California at a young age. You can find Torero's mural work scattered across the nation, each piece reflecting his devotion to social awareness and consciousness. Check out his TED Talk on “Artivism Without Borders” below!

Culture and History

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

You may have heard of this holiday, which coincides with All Saint's Day and blends MesoAmerican ritual with European religion. Take a dive into the indigenous roots of this celebration of life, and learn more about how Día de los Muertos came to be and how the tradition is evolving in the modern era.

The Latino Experience

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has a series of articles that explore the results of different NEH grants on advancing education, research and more. The articles focus primarily on the results of these grants, but have interesting takeaways on how Latinx culture and tradition have influenced the United States. The second article in the series highlights the changes caused by immigration and education.

Cultural Pluralism

There has been tension (and sometimes outright conflict) between the concepts of cultural pluralism and assimilation throughout our country's history. Read this inspiring article from the Smithsonian on Caribbean Americans and their cultural influence on the diversity of American life. History.com examines the nuances of the different terms used to describe the Latin American population such as Latino, Hispanic or Latinx.

Food!

Are you hungry? Hispanic food encompasses many delicious cuisines. Click here to browse recipes and start cooking!

CollegiateParent celebrates the cultural diversity that has fueled the United States for generations. Wishing all of our readers a very happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

*www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/hispanic-heritage-month.htm
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