"Fiesta Musical" by Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian's National Zoo. Image used under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year between September 15 and October 15. Enacted into law in 1988, this 30-day period celebrates the achievements, contributions, and heritage of Hispanic and Latino Americans with roots in Latin American countries. Additionally, these dates mark the anniversaries of Independence for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Belize.
Celebrate with us by exploring our recommended resources or by attending an event in our local community.
This guide may use unfamiliar terms. We recommend that you engage our Books, Articles, and More section, as well as campus experts linked below, to learn more about the contexts, cultures, and histories mentioned in this guide. This guide is not comprehensive, but instead provides entry points for engaging with the libraries and other campus resources.
We also recognize that this section recently included definitions for identities that were incomplete or incorrect, including Latinx, Chicanx, and Hispanic. We apologize for the harm this caused our community and thank the community for providing feedback. If you have feedback on this guide, please email us at libraries@colorado.edu.
"A very engaging and erudite history of the cultural food history of Puerto Rico! There are many Puerto Rican dishes and foods that can be taken for granted in my everyday life or simply lumped into a pan-Latin/Mexican culinary genre. The author illuminates the incredible uniqueness of several Puerto Rican dishes and ingredients. The author also examines how colonizing and indigenous cultural influences combined in a resilient and vibrant food history that is symbolic of the values of Puerto Rican culture. Well researched and in-depth social commentary make this read an educational palate pleaser!" --Jordan Wrigley, Data Librarian
"This horror comedy/scooby-doo-esque mystery novel was an exciting and nostalgic trip of absurdity and discovery in the Northwest." --George Karpoff, Library Human Resources Specialist
"This book is beautiful and heartbreaking. Alvarez is a masterful storyteller - I could not put this book down! But perhaps most importantly, the story in this book is based off the true story of the the Mirabal sisters who were part of the revolution to overthrow Rafael Trujillo, a dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic for more than 30 years. This book brings to life an important part of history that many may not already be familiar with." --Nissa Zimmer, Finance & Human Resource Specialist
"I love this author's project (and writing!), talking to the undocumented people of America as an insider." --Liz Novosel, Liaison & Projects Librarian
"Based on a true story, it gives the person a glimpse into Hispanic history and culture." --Jennifer Sanchez, Photographic Archivist
"This collection, edited by two Chicana women, is an elucidating and identity-affirming compilation of personal essays, testimonies, poetry, criticism, and visual art about the complex intersectional feminism of women of color. It really resonates. It gave clarity and form to experiences and emotions that I've otherwise found difficult to fully articulate as a biracial women in American society." --Kalyani Fernando, Collection Development Archivist
"These gorgeous illustrations, full of symbolism, celebrate the strengths that immigrants bring with them. The author tells the story of the author bringing her infant son to America, with uncertainty, and hope. Wonderful video of Morales talking about the inspiration for the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAiTFJaNiD8" --Linds Roberts, Education Librarian
What did you love about this book? "How viscerally she made me feel the strain between her college experience and her Cuban neighborhood where she grew up..." --Jennifer Knievel, Lead, Researcher & Collections Engagement Team
"This Young Adult memoir is told in verse, following the author's younger self between Cuba and California, with lush, vivid memories of the Cuban landscape. The book documents how the Cold War and Cuban revolution separate the two countries just as rifts begin to open in her family. Engle explores the growing understanding of her biracial identity as well as the racism she experiences at school and in her neighborhood, seeking understanding and wholeness. The language and imagery are gorgeous!" --Linds Roberts, Education Librarian
"This book was published in 1959 and illustrates the beginnings of the Mexican-American experience in United States. The allegory written truly speaks to the Hispanic experience of the past and is relative to today's phenomena of LatinX." --Theresa Ortega, Library Technician III
"These poems are gorgeous, tender, introspective, unafraid. My favorite in the collection is 'The Problem with Travel':
'Then, I think of you, home
with the dog, the field full
of purple pop-ups-- we're small and
flawed, but I want to be
who I am, going where
I'm going, all over again.'" --Amanda Rybin Koob, Literature and Humanities Librarian
"The Labyrinth of Solitude is a classic collection of essays exploring Mexican history, identity, and culture by essayist and poet, Octavio Paz." --Alexander Luis Odicino, Ask a Librarian Apprentice
