By: Jocelyn Almarales and Aaron Rotter
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration that gathers all Hispanics and non-Hispanics to honor the culture, history, ancestors, traditions, and people. Hispanics are people from a Spanish-speaking country.
It does not matter if you are from Spain, Guatemala, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, or Chile. What makes someone Hispanic is the ability to speak Spanish so what would happen if you were Hispanic in a non-Spanish speaking country? Would your traditions die?
After many years of correlation between Americans and Hispanics, in 1968 President Lyndon Johnson proposed celebrating Hispanic Heritage Week. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a month long celebration, lasting Sept 15 to Oct 15.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, several activities were celebrated on Wilbur Wright’s campus. Student Government Association hosted Taco Tuesday Loteria and Karaoke on Oct 1. Hispanic Heritage Month Kahoot on Oct 8 and Lotería on Oct 15. A special event with Hispanic Heritage Month Poetry Reading on Oct 15. Chicago Latino Dance on Oct 17 and Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest due Oct 18.
Daniel Alonso, a Cuban student, says he liked the variety of activities he had to choose from, including the Latin American Student Organization which supports and inspires Latin students for better performance at school.
Hispanic Representative Poster at the Cafeteria. Photo Credit: Jocelyn Almarales
He would like more events about his own culture like salsa classes. “I love everything about being Cuban, but I think my favorite thing would be how funny we are and how we help each other no matter what,” Alonso adds.
Jennifer Aguilar, a Mexican-descendant student expressed she feels represented by the activities that the school does; however, “sometimes I feel it is too focused in just one culture. My favorite thing is the culture, specifically all the religion behind it and what they represent”, said Melissa Vino
Martinezw, a Mexican-descendant student. She says she feels represented by the events that take place in the school because not every school has it. “I did all of the activities for HHM, and I liked it”.
Santiago Salas Colina, a Venezuelan engineering student said “My favorite thing about being Venezuelan is the food, and in general our country is pretty nice” he also said he enjoyed the events for Hispanic Heritage Month; however, he doesn’t have any specific favorite activity. “It would be nice if they include more cultures in the events” was his final comment.
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