U of A Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
Departments across the University of Arkansas and in our own Fulbright College are celebrating the observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, also known as Latine/x Heritage Month, which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, and celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
In 2024, the celebration kicked off with the debut of a calendar with an extensive list of events, all under the shared theme of “Nuevos Horizontes: Shaping the Future.”
Highlight events included concerts, conversation series, salsa dancing lessons, a book club, Karaoke nights, workshops, film screenings, lectures, professional development opportunities, panel discussions,
Additionally, the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center also hosted the Sanctuary/ Santaurio art exhibition, composed of multimedia art created by Latine/x artists based in Northwest Arkansas, and the U of A’s Latino Alumni Society hosted several tailgates.
Then, the U of A also hosted its 19th annual Plaza de las Américas event on Oct. 10 to celebrate Latin American and Spanish-speaking cultures in Arkansas.
During the event, U of A international and U.S. students shared music, dancing, food and more from their home countries. Guests were also invited to take bachata dancing lessons, have conversations in Spanish at “the tertulia” tables and enjoy performances.
Each year, this cultural and educational event offers campus and community members an opportunity to learn about the rich heritage and diverse cultures of over 20 countries, which are an increasingly important part of our culture in the United States.
The event was organized by the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures and its Spanish Program; U of A’s Multicultural Center; Transition Programs & Initiatives; and International Students and Scholars.
Its sponsors also include Fulbright College and its Departments of English, and of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures and its Spanish Program, as well as its Latin American and Latino Studies Program; the College of Engineering, the Graduate School and International Education, the Honors College; U of A’s Multicultural Center; Transition Programs & Initiatives; International Students and Scholars; Mullins Library and University Programs.
Finally, be sure to visit the university’s Portraits of Progress site as well, to learn about the U of A’s Hispanic and Latine/x pioneers and the U of A’s Multicultural Center website to learn more about the university’s heritage celebrations.
About National Hispanic Heritage Month: The timing of National Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff for the month because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821.
According to the National Park Service’s official National Hispanic Heritage Month website, the term Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or is a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country. The term Latino/a or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or is a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.
Various parts of this story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.