This year, National Hispanic Heritage Month started on September 15 and will last until October 15. The month celebrates the culture and traditions of the Hispanic community, and it supports the Latinx community. During Upper School Gathering on September 30, we heard from various students and faculty about their experiences as people of Hispanic origin, and the Spanish club and BLSU have now started their annual pulsera bracelet sale in support of the month and Central American artists. As the month comes to an end, many of our students and faculty members have recommended books and movies to celebrate their Hispanic heritage. So, if you are looking for ways to participate in Hispanic Heritage Month (beyond buying pulseras, that is), you can show support by listening to stories through movies, books, short stories, or personal stories from the Latinx community. 

When asked to recommend a movie to celebrate this month, senior Fabio Yales said, “Coco is a classic everyone will love. One main theme in the movie is the Day of the Dead, which is celebrated by a lot of people of Hispanic heritage.” 

During an interview, Assistant to College Counseling and BLSU Faculty Advisor Darling Cerna reflected on her experiences with books and movies of Hispanic Heritage: “I first discovered my love for Julia Alvarez in high school. The books that resonated with me were How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and In the Time of the Butterflies. They’re both so telling of family dynamics and they tell powerful stories. In the Time of the Butterflies made me cry the first time I read it. I had made so many connections with the characters, and I felt like I was part of the family. It struck me with happiness, fear, sadness and all emotions in between. 

“Similarly, a movie that comes to mind is Under the Same Moon, better known as Bajo la Misma Luna. This film was beautifully done and tells the story of a young boy whose mother is in the United States, working hard to provide for him. However, his main caretaker, his grandmother, passes away and he must cross the border to get to his mother. This story is beautifully done and does an excellent job of portraying the journey that many young children face in order to be reunited with their loved ones. It humanizes an issue in our country: the lack of a better immigration policy. No matter what party or candidate you support, this film will leave a mark on you and help you see the issue in a different light. I highly recommend these books and the movie!”