U of A Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

Departments across the University of Arkansas and in our own Fulbright College are celebrating the observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which lasts from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year, and honors the history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present.  

The U of A’s Hispanic Heritage Month festivities kick off with a celebration from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 15, on the Union Mall.  

Participants can join University Programs and the Multicultural Center in celebrating and learning about the many Latin American countries that share the Sept. 15 date as their anniversary of independence.  

The free event will also feature a live DJ, traditional dances, games, tasty treats like pupusas and tacos, prizes and more.

Then, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Anne Kittrell Gallery on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Union will host a “Poetry Worship with Noelia Cerna,” a spoken word poet and editor. The workshop will be appropriate for both beginning and longtime poets, and refreshments will be provided.

In October, the celebration continues with a “Cafecito with Latine Alumni” at 6 p.m. in the Multicultural Center classroom on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Participants can join in person or virtually for a “charla” and refreshments.

And on Thursday, Oct. 6 the beloved annual Plaza de las Americas cultural showcase of Latin American countries begins at 4 p.m. on the Union Mall.

There will also be a Salsa Night on Thursday, Oct. 13 in the International Connections Lounge to celebrate both salsa the food and salsa the dance.

Be sure to visit the university’s Portraits of Progress site as well, to learn about the U of A’s Hispanic and Latinx pioneers and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s 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. 

Parts of this story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.