September 15 – October 15 is officially National Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States. This is a time to recognize American citizens with Latino ancestry and celebrate the vital contributions that the Hispanic culture weaves into our American fabric.
First proclaimed by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was extended to a month-long recognition under President Ronald Reagan in 1988. Originally established to honor neighboring Central American countries who celebrate independence in September (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico), it has since become a lively and colorful month to celebrate Hispanic cultures and customs.
See the links below to learn more or participate in NHHM events:
Smithsonian NHHM Events:
Young Portrait Explorers- Selena https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D147623558
Introducing DeloresHeurta:
https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D145485583
Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain: Power, Femininity, and Portraiture in the Court of Felipe III:
https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D147005363
Introducing Sandra Cisneros:
https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D145485584
Free Resources from PBS: Premiering in 2013, “The Latino Americans” was the first major documentary series for television to chronicle the rich and varied history and experiences of Latinos who have helped shape North America over the last 500 years and have become, with more than 50 million people, the largest minority group in the U.S. There are 6 episodes and we will share one each week during National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Episode 2: Empire of Dreams:
Documents how the American population begins to be reshaped by the influx of people that began in 1880 and continues into the 1940s, as Cubans, Mexicans and Puerto Ricans begin arriving in the U.S. and start to build strong Latino-American communities in South Florida, Los Angeles and New York
https://www.pbs.org/video/latino-americans-episode-2-empire-dreams/