Making Hispanic Heritage Month Meaningful
Spanish teacher, author and teacher trainer
We’ve all heard it before: we shouldn't wait for a designated month to celebrate a group of people and amplify their voices. When we are part of a community, our achievements, contributions, and values should be recognized and celebrated year-round. However, now that Hispanic Heritage Month is here, let’s make the most of this opportunity to celebrate and uplift Hispanic culture to the fullest.
How can you celebrate and amplify Hispanic voices in a respectful and meaningful way? The first step is to engage with these cultures from within. If you’re going to learn about a famous Mexican figure, ask yourself: Who wrote the story you're reading? Is it authored by a Mexican writer? Is it a narrative told with the pride and love of someone who wants to share their own culture?
The key is learning from an authentic perspective. Who are the authors behind the stories you’re exploring? Every culture has its unique way of narrating its own experiences, its own regionalisms, and its own musicality in language. So, when you read about a significant Hispanic figure, it’s not just about the content of the story but also the way the story is told. Culture is deeply embedded in how people narrate their own experiences.
Another important consideration when learning about a culture from the global South is the type of story you’re consuming. Stories about poverty, drug lords, and "white savior" narratives often dominate the media, but are these truly respectful ways to approach and understand a culture?
The concept of "poverty voyeurism" emerged in the 1980s to describe the way media outlets often exploit poverty as a form of entertainment or emotional manipulation. Before introducing a book or a film to your students, consider who is telling the story, through what lens, and with what purpose. Is the story designed to offer genuine insight into the culture, or is it merely capitalizing on stereotypes and sensationalism?
Finally, as you explore the lives and contributions of famous Hispanic individuals, encourage your students to make connections with their own lives, cultures, and communities. Any cultural exploration should be approached from an intercultural perspective, providing students with a space to reflect and draw parallels between the traditions and experiences they are learning about and those in their own lives.
As a writer, I strive to share my culture from the inside out, offering an authentic glimpse into the heart of Colombia. I invite you to explore my books—Cumbia, El camino del café, Es posible soñar, El entierro—and experience Colombia, not just learn about it. Through these stories, you'll not only be captivated by the narratives, but you'll also feel the rhythm of my country, the spirit of its people, and the way we see and understand the world.
Rigo
