Hispanic Heritage Month is Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and throughout this month, we honor the diverse cultures, histories and endless contributions that Hispanic and Latinx Americans have made and continue to make to society.
With over 60 million Hispanics in the United States—the nation’s largest ethnic and racial minority—it is safe to say that the rich cultures from these communities will only continue to enhance our nation’s future.
You may be wondering why Hispanic Heritage Month spans from mid-September to mid-October? Well, the timing for this month-long celebration was intentionally chosen to encompass the Independence Day of several Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile and Belize.
How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
We typically celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with festivals, parades and educational events at school, and in our communities, but these options are not feasible this year. Thankfully, there are other ways we can virtually embrace, learn and appreciate the beauties of Hispanic and Latinx cultures at home and with our family, friends and classmates.
As a PTA, family engagement is key. You could celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by hosting a virtual story time with your families and students, or you could attend a virtual educational event together and host a reflection session afterwards.
Here are some resources and lists of engaging and inspiring books, movies, shows and virtual events that display a wide range of voices and stories within the Hispanic and Latinx community.
Read Books that Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Cultures
- Brightly: 15 Picture Books That Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
- HuffPost: 19 Children’s Books To Read In Honor Of Hispanic Heritage Month
- Scholastic: 15 Amazing Books to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Watch Movies and Shows that Celebrate Hispanic & Latinx Cultures
- Common Sense Media: Great TV Shows with Latinx Characters and Creators
- Fatherly: The 7 Best Spanish Culture Kids Movies Ever Made
Virtual Hispanic Heritage Month Events
Events Hosted by the Library of Congress
Events Hosted by Smithsonian
- Youth Writing Hour: Celebrating Latinx Writers- Rubén Salazar
- Historia Natural en Casa: “Arqueología, Objetos e Historias”
- Young Portrait Explorers- Sonia Sotomayor
Events Hosted by Abriendo Puertas
2020 Event Highlights on the National Hispanic Heritage Month Website
Grisoranyel Barrios is a family engagement specialist at National PTA.
