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I love and respect Hispanic communities, heritages, and cultures! #HispanicHeritageMonth is an essential and vibrant time of the year from September 15th through October 15th. Although I do not self-identify as Afro-Latina, I have immense empathy, support, and admiration for Hispanic communities as a Jamaican-American woman. Furthermore, I have Afro-Latino relatives, such as my brother-in-law and two nephews. They have lineages associated with the nations of the Dominican Republic and Belize. These are three ways I honored and celebrated #HispanicHeritageMonth that you can do also!
I Visit Hispanic-Owned Restaurants & Grocery Stores!
I celebrated my birthday weekend during #HispanicHeritageMonth with my mother by attending bowling night with my new coworkers and friends from Adelphi University. There was a lovely and vibrant restaurant next to the bowling alley named The Cuban. I loved the tropical ambiance, live music, and classic cars that embody Havana itself! The Cuban restaurant is under 20 minutes from campus.
I ordered “Paella Cubana!” It is on my bucket list to cook paella from home. Every scoop of rice, seafood (scallops, lobster tail, shrimp, clams, mussels), veggies (peas, peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic), and chorizo (sausage) was full of sensational flavor! The staff was very delightful and friendly!
As I have written in my #BlackLivesMatter Spoon University article, I love Ada’s Gojjo! As a New Jerseyan, I support the Hispanic community through local food by visiting the Dominican-Ethiopian family-owned restaurant, Ada’s Gojjo, which is located in the Jersey Shore community of Asbury Park, NJ. The beach and boardwalk are less than a mile away! I ordered my favorite Dominican dish of shrimp in garlic sauce with rice and pigeon peas as my entree, and vegan empanadas as my family appetizer. I visited the restaurant with my multigenerational family this past summer. Fun times were had by all!
Exito is my favorite grocery store! There are all types of special grocery items that you can use to make dishes to celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth! My mother bought ackee, a Jamaican fruit, from there to make me a Jamaican birthday breakfast!
I Practice Speaking Spanish
I have learned various dialects of Spanish all my life! Such dialects include, but are not limited to, North American, Central American, South American, and Castilian! I encourage you to do so, too, especially during #HispanicHeritageMonth!
I have learned Spanish through Afro-Latino family members, Latin friendships, community members, coworkers, and academia. I have independent, social, and professional Spanish communication experience as an adult.
Through certain books I’ve read, I’ve enhanced my Spanish vocabulary to increase my knowledge of culinary, nutritional, and health-related terminology. For example, my favorite section of my undergraduate Spanish textbook has a wide array of vocabulary associated with restaurants and food! Ordering food and telling jokes in Spanish is so much fun! For example, while dining solo at a local Mexican restaurant, I randomly and loudly exclaimed, “Taco Bell es una broma!” [Taco Bell is a joke!] as I flatter the chefs while making the staff and fellow diners laugh!
I even read a pamphlet entitled “Vivir Con Diabetes” (Living with Diabetes) to enhance my knowledge of Medical Terminology in the beautiful language of Spanish. The Hispanic community is a vulnerable community with some members afflicted with Type II Diabetes Mellitus. Type II Diabetes Mellitus is mainly caused by a high sugar diet. I have a genuine affinity to help a community that inspires and uplifts me. My goal is to become a Bilingual Peer Health/Nutrition Educator!!
I Incorporate Latin Influences Into Personal Hobbies/Interests
I love to cook, dance, and work out. Therefore, the Latin dance and fitness brand Zumba(R) is a natural fit for me! I cooked a fajita recipe from a Zumba book that I read from a local library! Zumba, led by Colombian fitness legend Beto Perez, is my favorite form of fitness to teach and learn! I have participated in Zumba for more than a decade and have earned my Zumba Instruction license. Becoming a Zumba Instructor was one of the best days of my life!
I even met one of my favorite Zumba All-Stars, Marcie Benavides, and her husband, DJ Francis, a lovely and down-to-earth couple! They took the time out of their busy schedules to host a Zumba certification event in my tiny New Jersey county. I will never forget that day! I’ve been told that salsa and 90s are my dance strengths! Therefore, I channel my favorite legendary Spanish Harlem instructor of Caribbean descent (Puerto Rican and Dominican) Tomás Guerrero while dancing salsa around my Jersey Shore community, beach, and boardwalk! “El Espíritu de Salsa” is my favorite movie of all time that documents Guerrero’s dance studio while embracing parallels of my health and recreation philosophy. This movie is my go-to for fun and laid-back self-care time! I emailed him to receive permission to screen his movie on campus and even attend his classes in the future!
Many Hispanic individuals and communities have made significant marks in history and present times all over the world! You can celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth in your kitchen by cooking arepas, pupusas, or tostadas! You can dance your heart out to rhythmic salsa or cumbia music! If you are a bookworm like me, read Chilean author Isabel Allende’s novel “El Cuaderno de Maya” (Maya’s Notebook) to channel intriguing and feminine vibes! My current Spanish reading between classes is “Como Agua para Chocolate” (Like Water for Chocolate) by legendary Mexican ancestry author Laura Esquivel. You can have fun at a Latino Student Association event around campus with good people, food, and music! I wholeheartedly celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth not only during my birthday weekend but year-round with food, family, fitness, and fun!