Hispanic Heritage Month, running from September 15 to October 15, is a vibrant celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. This month-long observance honors the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the Hispanic community, from music and art to historical achievements and social progress. Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October.

By Jennifer Mendez What is Latinx (or Hispanic) Heritage Month? Each year, Americans observe National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, c…

(This is a guest post by Catalina Gómez, Curator of the PALABRA Archive in the Latin American, Caribbean and European division) Following its annual National Hispanic Heritage Month tradition, the Hispanic Reading Room in the Latin American, Caribbean and European division (LAC&E) announces the digital release of 50 new streaming audio recordings in the PALABRA …

Here at the Daniel F. Cracchiolo Law Library circulation desk, we serve as a home base to the James E. Rogers College of Law students and public patrons. As some of the first faces you see when you walk in, we are the first to answer any questions you may have on course textbooks, locating resources, or most importantly Lost & Found. However, rarely do we get questions about our additional resources and collections here in the library. As an LIS professional and advocate of continual learning, I’m often eager to encourage students to take a moment to explore all that our Libraries has to offer. That is why in recognition and celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, we at the circulation desk are going to take a moment explore the rich history of why we celebrate as well as highlight some of the exciting stories and collections we have available on campus.

Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration. A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture. The holiday is celebrated each year from October 31- November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 1 is "el Dia de los Inocentes," or the day of the children who have passed away, and All Saints Day. November 2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are open at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

An "erudite, comprehensive" analysis of Latinx identity in the United States as it relates to American culture, society, and politics (Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, author of Racism Without Racists) "Latinx" (pronounced "La-teen-ex") is the gender-neutral term that covers one of the largest and fastest growing minorities in the United States, accounting for 17 percent of the country. Over 58 million Americans belong to the category, including a sizable part of the country's working class, both foreign and native-born. Their political empowerment is altering the balance of forces in a growing number of states. And yet Latinx barely figure in America's ongoing conversation about race and ethnicity. Remarkably, the US census does not even have a racial category for "Latino." In this groundbreaking discussion, Ed Morales explains how Latinx political identities are tied to a long Latin American history of mestizaje--"mixedness" or "hybridity"--and that this border thinking is both a key to understanding bilingual, bicultural Latin cultures and politics and a challenge to America's infamously black-white racial regime. This searching and long-overdue exploration of the meaning of race in American life reimagines Cornel West's bestselling Race Matters with a unique Latinx inflection.