U of A Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
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 2023, the celebration kicked off with Sueños: Dreaming with Our Eyes Open, a portrait gallery celebrating Latine/x UARK students, staff and community figures. A reception was held Sept. 19 in the Anne Kittrell Gallery of the Arkansas Union and featured live mural painting by U of A alumna Lupita Albarrán.
The gallery exhibition also featured portraits of more than 40 students, alumni, staff and faculty members from heritage countries of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Panama. Another component of the gallery was large participatory collages featuring the art, poetry and childhood photos of U of A Latine/x students.
The goal of Sueños was to capture the U of A’s Latine/x students, staff and faculty embracing their dreams as present realities. Sueños envisions timelines where dreams are not regulated to future realms and where our dreams are not treated as threats.
Then, the U of A hosted its 18th annual Plaza de las Americas event on Oct. 5 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; La Oficina Latina; New Student and Family Programs; and International Students and Scholars.
Its sponsors also include U of A’s Multicultural Center, Latin American and Latino Studies, Latino Alumni Society, University Housing, Graduate School and International Education, Honors College, College of Engineering, Fulbright College, Department of English, Associated Student Government 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.
And, check out U of A’s University Libraries’ National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration list of free ebooks and streaming videos available to all students, staff and faculty.
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.