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HISPANIC NETWORK MAGAZINE www.hnmagazine.com
FEATURE STORY
H
ispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week. Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. In 1988, the commemorative week was expanded to a month (September 15 to October 15) by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Edward Torres (D-Pico Rivera), amended by Senator Paul Simon and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the commemoration because it is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores, which marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence and thus resulted (in 1821) in independence for the New Spain Colony, now comprised of the individual countries of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua. This year as many places and businesses have opened back up to the public, there are a variety of ways that you can celebrate, com- memorate and educate regarding the history and accomplishments of the Hispanic and Latinx communities. Here are some unique ideas you should check out:
Support Hispanic-Owned Businesses
Despite being the fastest-growing segment of small businesses in the country, Hispanic- owned businesses were hit the hardest dur- ing the COVID-19 pandemic. This Hispanic Heritage Month, take the time to discover your local and online Hispanic-owned busi- nesses. This can be done from a quick Google search or from exploring the hashtags #his- panicowned, #latinxowned or #latinaowned on social media platforms. From dcor, cloth- ing and food to service providers and banks, there are tons of options to show your support.
Visit a Museum or Historic Site
Hispanic Heritage Month is an amazing time to learn more about the contributions and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latinx individuals and advocacy groups. While there are several museums of various sizes across the country that are exclusively dedicated to sharing Hispanic history and heritage, there will also be limited-time exhibits dedicated to Hispanic communities during the months of
Ways to Commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month
September and October. Some popular muse- ums to consider include: El Museo del Barrio: New York, N.Y. National Hispanic Cultural Center: Albuquerque, N.M. National Museum of the American Latino: Washington, D.C. Museum of Latin American Art: Long Beach, Calif. Instituto de Cultura Hispnica: Corpus Christi, Texas
Check Out Hispanic- Focused Films, Television Series or Podcasts
Watching films and documentaries as well as listening to podcasts from Hispanic and Latinx storytellers and creators are fantastic and easy ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from your very own home. Many streaming services will even have a section this month that will highlight these podcasts, movies and television shows with a variety of genres for you in one place. Some content to consider watching or listening to this month include: Selena : Directed by Gregory Nava Frida : Directed by Julie Taymor Roma : Directed by Alfonso Cuarn On My Block : Created by Eddie Gonzalez Paper Children : Directed by Alexandra Cordina (Documentary) Cesars Last Fast : Directed by Rick Perez (Documentary)
Read Works by Hispanic Authors
Across history, there have always been Latinx authors writing their stories, fiction and non-fiction, to share with audiences around the world. Take the time to learn, appreci- ate and simply enjoy some of the life stories and creative works of Hispanic Americans throughout history: In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez The Taste of Sugar by Marisel Vera Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas by Roberto Lovato In the Dream House by Carmen Mara Machado This is Not a Frank Ocean Album Cover by Alan Chazaro
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