Celebrate & honor National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Casey Dawson, Countable News

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, 2021, is a time to recognize the significant histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, and Central and South American descent.

Originating as “Hispanic Heritage Week” in 1968, the commemoration was later extended to a month and signed into law in 1988.

Debate over the appropriate use of the words "Hispanic," "Latinx," "Latino/a" has spread amongst social media and community conversations in recent times, but the underlying message of this nationally recognized month remains. 

Read on for various ways you can participate in this celebration

Educate Yourself

• The National Hispanic Heritage Month website has exhibits, collections, videos, events, and other resources to learn more.
• The Smithsonian Latino Center hosts a variety of educational resources for and about Hispanic / Latinx communities.
• History.com offers a vast collection of Hispanic / Latinx histories, articles, and photos.

PBS Possibilities

Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is offering a curated collection of films to watch this month. Here are just a few of the documentaries and films available. 

• American Masters: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It (premiering Oct 5) - a documentary on the life of award-winning actress Rita Moreno.
• Joyride (currently streaming) - A 2021 PBS Short Film Festival award-winning movie about teenage Latina sisters and their grandmother embarking on one last adventure.
• The Song of the Butterflies - A POV documentary featuring indigenous painter Rember Yahuarcani

Virtual Events

• Oct 12. Library of Congress 2020 Américas Award Ceremony - Celebrating Latin American, Hispanic-American, and Latinx creators and their work in youth and children’s literature.
• Oct. 20 - Wind Down Wednesday: Bidi Bidi Bom Bom - Virtual conversation hosted by the National Portrait Gallery about Tejana icon Selena, with cocktail mocktail tutorials.
• Take a free virtual tour of the Museum of Latin American Art and attend an online poetry reading featuring Afro-Latinx writers and educators.

Virtual Events for Kids and Families

• Young Portrait Explorers - A virtual workshop hosted by the Smithsonian for children ages 3-6 and their adult companions to learn about art, history, and more from prominent Latinx artists.
• Dolores Huerta and César Chávez (Oct. 6)
• Carmen Herrera (Oct. 13)
• Oct 11. Panel Discussion - a virtual celebration of children’s and YA Latin American and Latinx literature featuring panelists Angela Burke Kunkel, Aida Salazar, Raúl The Third, Sili Recio, and Yamile Saied Méndez.
• Oct 30. Día de los Muertos Virtual Family Celebration - Hosted by the Smithsonian featuring dance performances and speakers.

Local Legends

Events and programs, both virtual and in-person, are scheduled in communities across the country, so check your local community calendar.

Here are some examples in major cities:

• New York City - The 54th annual Hispanic Day Parade will take place on Oct 10, and even more events can be found here.
• Los Angeles - Various events are being offered including a Día de los Muertos celebration and a film festival specifically showcasing LGBTQ Latinx filmmakers
• Washington, D.C. - Enjoy a free outdoor concert featuring an internationally recognized tango musician on Oct 2. 

More Ideas

• Support a local Hispanic or Latinx-Owned business, restaurant, artist.
• Read a book written by a Hispanic / Latinx author. This year, many lists have been compiled by Scholastic, Penguin Random House, Barnes and Noble, Simon & Schuster, Business Insider, and so many more.