Hispanic Heritage Month is a beautiful opportunity to commemorate Hispanic history and celebrate its influence on other cultures. Being able to share different family traditions, beliefs, and practices is a special way of uncovering new information not only about the community but about your Latin friends and loved ones. However, there’s a risk of it being a pretty wasted opportunity if people aren’t shown how to celebrate and respect the community. As a born and raised Dominican, I must admit I wasn’t very aware of Hispanic Heritage Month until I moved to the U.S. After all, it is a celebration observed only in the U.S. Nonetheless, I was interested to see how it would be commemorated and hoped to finally have a conversation, outside of only Latin spaces, about Latino’s impact and recognize their contribution to U.S. history. By the end of the month, I couldn’t name more than a handful of places and people that recognized the month. Honestly, I don’t blame those around me for wondering if sharing the Instagram post on their story is enough, or if they were supposed to quickly send a congratulatory text to their Latin friend instead. It didn’t feel right to blame someone unaware and possibly feeling foolish for even asking what was right.
In an attempt to answer some questions, I felt it would be helpful to offer my perspective on some of the ways I feel that people outside of the Hispanic community could join the celebration. Keep in mind, I can’t speak for an entire community, but I hope this list at least inspires some conversation with your Hispanic loved ones.
- Specifically for Latin communities, I feel an important part of honoring and respecting the culture is recognizing the diverse countries that makeup Latin America. Although many Hispanic countries share similar values, each nation has a unique way of practicing and expressing these beliefs. For example, it is meaningful to show interest in how your Dominican friend’s upbringing differs from the traditions your Puerto Rican friend experienced.
- Once interest is shown, it is helpful to be curious about songs, artists, and dances that go beyond those mentioned in mainstream conversation. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met very few Latins that dislike Bad Bunny, but there are so many more incredible artists that showcase different aspects of our culture.
- You should apply the same approach to trying out different foods. Every country’s food has a unique taste, spice blend, and national dish. So make sure to check out other Latin dishes and not limit yourself only to tacos. Just to name a few, I highly recommend tostones, mole, Arroz con gandules, flan, paella, and ceviche.
- There are some places, such as museums, galleries, and university organizations, that are hosting events specifically to educate individuals on Hispanic culture. This is the time to find the motivation to visit the events and learn something new.
Overall, it is crucial to be curious while being kind. As long as there is no anger or ridicule behind your questions, feel free to ask fellow Latins and Hispanics what their opinions about Hispanic Heritage Month are.