Background
September is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates and recognizes the cultures, histories, and contributions of the Latinx community. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually across America from September 15 to October 15.
The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
Notable Terminology
While many Hispanic races and ethnicities are often used interchangeably, they have different meanings. Here are a few of the most common:
Hispanic – People descending from Spanish-speaking countries
Latino/Latinx – People from Latin America
Chicano – People of Mexican descent born in the United States
Boricua – People from Puerto Rico
Books
When children and youth are placed into foster care, away from parents, siblings, and extended family—they can lose their identity. That is why supporting, encouraging, and honoring a child’s race, ethnicity, culture, and disability is so important. While this may seem hard, one way to support identity and inclusion is through literacy!
Here are three books we recommend:
- First 100 Words, English & Spanish – Ana Godinez
- Where Are You From? – Yamile Saied Mendez
- The House of Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
