Overview
Each year from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month(Open external link) in the United States. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the countless contributions that Hispanic Americans have made to our nation, and especially to New York City, over the years. We also take this time to recognize the trailblazing individuals who fought for progress and equity for their communities.
This tradition began in 1968, when President Lyndon B. Johnson first issued a proclamation to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week. Later, Congress passed a bill to extend the celebration to last an entire month, which was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1988,(Open external link) and National Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated every year since 1989. The theme for 2024(Open external link) is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” which ”encapsulates the spirit of innovation, resilience, and unity that define the Hispanic experience.”
The dates for Hispanic Heritage Month were chosen to coincide(Open external link) with the Independence Day celebrations of many Latin American nations—namely, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua—that declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821. Chile, Mexico, and Belize also each have their own Independence Day celebrations on days throughout the month as well. In all, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates communities with roots in 20 Latin American countries and territories(Open external link) who make up over 19% of the U.S. population.
We encourage teachers, students, and families to explore the resources shared below to further expand their understanding of this rich and vibrant history.
Events and Exhibitions
- Throughout the month:
- Check out the New York Public Library’s Hispanic Heritage Month events,(Open external link) which includes activities for children of all ages such as bilingual story times, a teen book club, arts and crafts nights, and more.
- NYC Parks(Open external link) is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! Enjoy art exhibits, talks, black parties, and more.
- Check out virtual exhibitions from the National Museum of the American Latino(Open external link)
- El Museo del Barrio, located in Manhattan, is a museum created to present and preserve the art and culture of Puerto Ricans, Caribbean Americans, and all Latin Americans in the United States. Explore all they have to offer with events(Open external link) and exhibitions(Open external link) all year long.
- Sunday, September 15, 2024: Join in a day of fun for the whole family at the Carnaval Cultura Latina(Open external link) in Queens, which promotes the art, music, dance, and great food from Latino cultures.
- Monday, October 7–Friday, October 11, 2024: Educators can participate in the fifth annual “Teach Central America” week,(Open external link) an initiative that encourages teaching about Central American history and culture in the classroom.
- Saturday, October 12, 2024: Attend the Panamanian Parade(Open external link) in Brooklyn, and be a part of the largest celebration of Panamanian individuals and culture outside of the country itself The celebration begins at 12PM at President Street and Classon Avenue.
Reading List
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we encourage families, educators, and students to dive into a book that features Hispanic and Latino history, individuals, and experiences at the forefront. We hope you will enjoy and learn from new and classic titles, which cover a range of cultural backgrounds, fiction and nonfiction genres, and unique perspectives that are often not reflected in other popular works.
Breathe and Count Back from Ten, by Natalia Sylvester
Cemetery Boys, by Aiden Thomas
Clap When you Land, by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Distance Between Us, by Reyna Grande
Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, by Jennifer De Leon
Furia, by Yamile Saied Mendez
The Grief Keeper, by Alexandra Villasante
Keeper, by Mal Peet
Lobizona, by Romina Garber
Never Look Back, by Lilliam Rivera
Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms and Space, edited by Zoraida Córdova
When We Make It, by Elisabet Velasquez
Where I Belong, by Marcia Argueta Mickelson
Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora, edited by Saraciea J. Fennell
Woven in Moonlight, by Isabel Ibañez
Many of these books are readily available via New York’s public libraries, as well as through the Citywide Digital Library available on Sora(Open external link) for our students, where you can also find the Latino and Hispanic Heritage Month,(Open external link) Spanish Language #OwnVoices,(Open external link) and Hidden Voices: Latino Americans(Open external link) collections for even more recommendations.
We also recommend the New York Public Library’s lists of English,(Open external link) Spanish,(Open external link) and bilingual(Open external link) titles to read this month, and all year round. In addition, check out Colorín Colorado’s Hispanic Heritage Month book lists(Open external link) and discover poetry written by dozens of Latinx writers from the Poetry Foundation.(Open external link)
Civics for All Comics
This Hispanic Heritage Month, check out Historias de Resistencia #1: Dolores Huerta and the Plight of the Farm Workers & Union Organizers,(Open external link) a graphic history that includes many people, facts, and details from the past. The stories in this series will highlight the dynamism of the Latino community in the United States, a larger community whose story must be told!
Video and Audio Resources
To Watch:
- Hear from notable individuals like award-winning chef José Andrés, actress and director America Ferrera, and more with 10 great TED Talks by Hispanic and Latinx speakers.(Open external link)
- Check out the PBS collection of eight unique documentaries(Open external link) about different Hispanic and Latin American stories from across the country; for even more to watch from PBS, check out their Hispanic Heritage Month page,(Open external link) which has videos about music and culture, history, and profiles of Hispanic American heroes.
- To learn more about important Latinas in U.S. history, watch videos on figures like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor,(Open external link) musician Celia Cruz,(Open external link) labor activist Emma Tennayuca,(Open external link) and suffragette Maria Guadalupe Evangelina de Lopez.(Open external link)
- For more on the intersection between Hispanic Heritage and women’s history, the National Museum of American History has a video series called “Latinas Talk Latinas,”(Open external link) featuring even more discussions about notable Latina women who have had an impact on our country and society.
To Listen:
- Latino USA (Futuro Media):(Open external link) the longest-running Latino news and cultural public radio program.
- Radio Ambulante (NPR):(Open external link) a Spanish language podcast that tells stories from all over Latin America.
- ¿Quién Are We? (NPR):(Open external link) a new podcast that explores Latino and Hispanic identities, and the things that make us who we are.
- Planeta G (Greenpeace):(Open external link) learn more about the intersection between Latinx identity and environmentalism.
- “Yes She Did!”—Portraits (Smithsonian):(Open external link) In this episode, hear an interview with labor activist Dolores Huerta and learn about her life and legacy.
- “The Goddess of Broadway”—Sidedoor (Smithsonian/PRX):(Open external link) In this episode, learn about Diosa Costello, the first ever Puerto Rican performer to be on Broadway.
