Educating through Celebrating during National Hispanic Heritage Month

Ifetayo Jabari-Kitwala | Oct. 14 2021

September 15th to October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors Hispanic and Latinx Americans, their cultures, and the contributions they make to this country. We are celebrating this time by uplifting our people and their unique connections to their Hispanic and Latinx cultures.

From imagining the smell of the beans and chilaquiles (rojos) in Mexico to learning of the resiliency of Cubans and Nicaraguans gained through years of global adversity; from recognizing the work of Sylvia Rivera and Frida Kahlo had done for the LGBTQIA+ community to hearing stories of moms and aunts being chased by the police because they were street vendors, this month was nothing short of an exploration of Hispanic/Latinx culture, powerful storytelling, and its impact. And while everyone’s experiences are unique to them, one thing is true across the board— there is always a reason to celebrate.

So to close out the month, we asked The Many to share with us all the celebrations, people and experiences they’d like to celebrate and we hope you enjoy these special moments as much as we did.

Shina Kim-Avalos

What about your culture are you most proud of?
The sense of community is so strong in our culture. Whether you’re a family member, a long-time friend, a neighbor, or a colleague, you’re always cared for. I also love the power of bringing people together with our FOOD. There is no shortage of reasons to have a BIG gathering or party with lots of amazing food. My tias never have written directions for their recipes. They’re all passed down from generation to generation and each is a delicious labor of love.

Sofia Brenda Duzian (she/her)

What about your culture are you most proud of?
Cubans and Nicaraguans are resilient people. Through generations of adversity and chaos in both countries, the people remain so strong, full of vibrancy and life, unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I visited Nicaragua for the first time at 15 and Cuba at 22, both experiences were incredible and taught me so much about myself, my family history, and opened a whole new connection to my culture. It was so hard for me to leave Cuba at the end of that first trip and I knew I wanted to continue learning more and stay connected to the country and my heritage. I ended up working with an incredible organization called Project Por Amor, which helps bring people to Cuba and explore the country through art, music, history, and culture. The work was so dear to my heart and helped me feel like I was spreading the zest of Cuban culture to others.

Who is someone in the Latinx community that you have always looked up to?
My grandmother, my Mima, who passed away earlier this year, is someone I will look up to for the rest of my life. She grew up with 13 brothers and sisters in Managua, Nicaragua, and eventually moved to Los Angeles after her mother died. My grandmother worked tirelessly and meticulously her whole life, investing in properties, and making an income that could support the family and take them all over the world. She loved to travel more than anything, and I am so grateful that she passed that love on to me. She also spent her whole life taking care of my Uncle Glenn who had Down Syndrome and was her constant companion and best friend after my Pipa passed. She wasn’t the typical warm and fuzzy, sweater-knitting grandma, but she loved us with everything she had, she was intelligent, strong-willed, stubborn, and could kick your ass in poker any day of the week.

Lisandro Ancewicz

What about your culture are you most proud of?
There are a couple of things I’m really proud of. The first one is the sense of humor. Adversity in our own home countries made humor a pillar of our culture. It’s a way for us to connect and grow as a community.

Second would be our capacity for improvisation and quick planning. Our culture is known for planning things on the spot and rolling with the punches. Things don’t have to be perfect for us to move forward.

Third and most important would be our warmth. There is nothing more inspiring for me than our warmth.
This is a key element of our culture. We are always looking forward to socializing and welcoming people with open arms.

Who is someone in the Latinx community that you have always looked up to?
A Latino that really inspires me is John Leguizamo. He is a real warrior for the Latino community.

Edwin Barrera

If you and your family/friends/peers celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, what is your fondest memory of celebrations from the past?
We would go to Pico and Normandie in Los Angeles to catch the Salvadorian parade with my dad. My mom would go sell tamales and Atol de Elote alongside her oldest sister. The event was beautiful as they would be playing music, dancing, and eating all that good food like pupusas, tamales, yuca con chicharron, etc. Having a great time celebrating our country’s independence.

What about your culture are you most proud of?
Personally, I love the fact that till this day we all gather for Bday parties, holidays, etc. We throw a big party with good food, drinks, and music. We dance the night away and enjoy each other’s company. Proud of the fact that we are there for each other in good times and bad. Proud of the hard work and dedication that is instilled in us from little. I remember my mom and aunts getting up at 4-5 am to start making tamales on the weekends. Growing up selling food in front of St. Thoma church was something my family always did. I remember hearing stories of my mom and aunts being chased by police because they were street vendors. When I was 8-9 years old I would from time to time go with my mom and aunt to the convention center and help them sell sodas and water. Those experiences help me be the person that I am today. I don’t take anything for granted and appreciate everything that I have.

Jorge Andrade

If you have not celebrated this month before, why would you say you haven’t celebrated in the past?
To be quite honest, I never knew it was a thing. I always thought that the only time of the year that the US celebrated anything Hispanic was 5 de Mayo, which always felt like a weird misinformed and appropriated holiday merely used as an excuse to party. However, Hispanic Heritage Month in contrast is meant to highlight the achievements and contributions to today’s culture made by Hispanos & Latinos. Although I am grateful that we get an official month in “the content calendar” to be celebrated, seen, and recognized as a community, I wish we’d evolve the way we think about these types of holidays and continue the celebration year-round and not only within a specific timeframe.

What about your culture are you most proud of?
As a Hispano, I am most proud of our humanidad and family-centric values. We are a community filled with loving and compassionate people; we are selfless and empathetic, which allows us to treat others with respect and humility. When faced with adversity, our community always finds a way to uplift one another and help those in need. You could say that our mother’s “chancla/chancleta” and disciplining tactics have helped shape us all to be good and respectful members of society.

Shera Annain White

What about your culture are you most proud of?
Todo. La costumbres de mi mamá, mi familia, Tias y Tios, Primas y Primos, la gente de Mexico y la comida. I could go on and on about all of the things I love about mi culture Mexicana.

Mi abuelo y abuela lived on a ranch with lots of different animals; pigs, chickens, turkeys, cows, cattle, sheep, and ox. We would run around with all the animals and hide in the trees. It’s an unforgettable experience to be with nature and wild animals. My grandpa would let us get on his horse, I just remember the saddle weighing a ton (it’s very heavy).

Some of my favorite childhood memories come from my visits to Mexico. Every morning we would wake up, you could smell the beans and chilaquiles (rojos). Everyone greets you with a hug and a kiss, someone will call out your name because they have a plate of food ready for you. Did I also mention we drink coca-cola for breakfast!! My mom’s entire family is from a small town in Mexico called Teocaltiche. The people are rich with things that really matter like strength, family and religion. Even though they don’t have not have much to offer in terms of money, the people there always have a lot of love to give. Everything is pure in Mexico, pure happiness.

If you and your family/friends/peers celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, what is your fondest memory of celebrations from the past?
One of my fondest memories as a kid was from the age of 4 – 8 years old, we would take our annual trips to Teocaltiche, Jalisco Mexico. The region is known as “Los Altos de Jalisco”. They have fiestas every November 1 -11. It’s the celebration of the procession of the Virgen De Los Dolores.

After the procession, we would celebrate as a town for several days. It became a tradition for my family, not just for the town. After the procession, we would attend church and attend the party afterward. There would be lots of small vendors, food, games and fair rides. It was such a fun memorable experience because we would all come together as one.

Ash Ramirez (they/elle/papi)

What about your culture are you most proud of?
My top two answers go hand in hand, especially when it comes to putting together a good ol’ party, Latinx style… MUSICA Y COMIDA. Not only am I proud of these aspects of my culture but these are parts of my Latinidad that I most identify with. Nothing makes my heart feel the feels more than food and music. With food, your senses are literally immersed in it all. It’s a whole mood and experience for sure. And there’s so much more to it than you think, it’s not just burritos and nachos y’all.

Who is someone in the Latinx community that you have always looked up to?
As a queer non-binary Latinx I don’t see many that look like me but I do recognize the work of Sylvia Rivera and Frida Kahlo, both come from the LGBTQIA+ community and have always been in spaces as their unapologetic, authentic selves. This is not only inspiring but I owe it to them for paving the way for me to be in spaces as myself.