Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month is a nationwide annual celebration of American Latinx and Hispanic communities, their rich culture and important history. The month-long event began on Sept. 15 and will continue to Oct. 15.
Although these communities are celebrated year-round, extra recognition is given during this time for contributions such as powerful advocacy work, economic output, traditional foods, vibrant art, music and much more.
This year, UW-Eau Claire’s Multicultural Student Services (MSS) will play a major role in the celebratory events on campus for Latinx Heritage Month.
Caitlin Mai Chong Lee is the director of MSS and a 2003 political science and world politics alumna. She said that with the growing Latinx student population at UW-Eau Claire, the month’s acknowledgment has grown as well.
“When I think back to when I was a student, (Latinx Heritage Month) was present, but it was a growing population,” Lee said. “It wasn’t as prevalent as it is now.”
When national recognition of Latinx heritage began in 1968, it was only one week long. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s had spread awareness of the United States’ multicultural identities. On Sept. 14, 1989, President George H.W. Bush became the first president to declare Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.
These dates are not random. They coincide with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua declared independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821; Mexico did the same on Sept. 16, 1810; Chile was two days later on Sept. 18, 1810; Belize declared its independence from Great Britain on Sept. 21, 1981.
American Latinx history spans centuries, their presence rooted long before Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the current Latinx population in America is over 60 million, which is about 19% of the total population.
Lee said that MSS’s theme for Latinx Heritage Month last year was “belonging.” This year, it is focused on “collaboration and community.”
“It’s not only community building for our Latinx students, but it’s community building in general for our entire campus to learn about someone who has a different background than you, has a different lived experience than you, different cultural background, but also being able to appreciate each other,” Lee said.
For their first collaboration event for Latinx Heritage Month, MSS is partnering with the University Activities Commission (UAC) to host Bingo Extravaganza from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 24 in The Cabin.
This event will feature two different bingo games — Mexican loteria and City of Eau Claire-themed. Loteria is similar to traditional bingo but is played with a deck of cards featuring colorful images instead of numbers.
This is a free event, snacks included. Those who attend both rounds will be entered into a drawing for a prize.
Another collaboration event is Una Noche en la Plaza, taking place from 5-6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 in the Ojibwe Ballroom of Davies Student Center.
This grassroots festival will feature booths from local Latinx organizations and businesses, crafts and food for purchase from California Tacos, a Latinx-owned restaurant on Water Street. The first 50 students to attend will receive a free meal.
“Not only are we trying to let our own Latinx students on campus know resources and potential businesses in the community that (they) can go to but also letting the rest of our campus know that there are these other businesses,” Lee said.
MSS’s final collaboration for Latinx Heritage Month will be with the Latinx Student Association (LSA) and Recreation Department to provide a free salsa dance workshop from 6:30-8 p.m. on Oct. 16 in room 111 of the McPhee Physical Education Center.
Students can learn the basics of salsa dance from an instructor from Chippewa Valley Social Dancing, followed by some free time to show off their new skills.
Amber Keller, a second-year communications student, is the senate director of the Equity in Student Matters Commission (ESM).
According to Keller, ESM has been highlighting iconic Hispanic figures on their Instagram page, such as Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor and major league baseball player Roberto Clemente.
Keller said that beyond the on-campus events, there are many other ways to celebrate this month.
“I love the idea of even just going with your friends to get some Mexican food,” Keller said. “Outside of campus, just doing that little extra research about a person, a day, a month or anything is so important and goes a long way … That’s when people start to understand each other and the community is brought together.”
Matczak can be reached at [email protected].
