Hispanic Heritage Month 2011: Some resources of interest

September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. The month is a national observance to recognize and celebrate the history, culture, achievements and contributions of American citizens of Hispanic and Latino heritage. The dates coincide with the independence days of various Latin American countries. The holiday started as Hispanic Heritage Week, approved by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. The observance was expanded to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan.

Here are some links and resources so you can learn more:

• You can start at the Hispanic Heritage Month website maintained by the federal government. The site is “a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.” You can find articles, photos, virtual exhibits, and other educational materials.
• You can read President Obama’s Presidential Proclamation here.
• The U.S Census Bureau has put together a collection of facts and figures related to Hispanic Americans and Hispanic Heritage Month. Did you know that Texas is one of 16 states with at least a half-million Hispanic residents? Follow the link to find out which are the other 15 states and learn more.
• The Smithsonian also has a web portal with interesting content. For example, they provide links to articles from Smithsonian Magazine related to Hispanic Heritage. These articles cover topics such as “the changing demographics of the United States, talks with comedian George Lopez on humor and race, remember[ing] a historic Little League Baseball team and highlights the food of Hispanic culture.” They also offer a collection of teaching resources.
• The National Endowment for the Humanities site EDSITEment! has a feature for Hispanic Heritage Month. EDSITEment “offers a treasure trove for teachers, students, and parents searching for high-quality material on the Internet in the subject areas of literature and language arts, foreign languages, art and culture, and history and social studies.” All resources on the site are reviewed by experts, and this is an excellent resource for teachers, parents, and anyone wanting to learn more.
• PBS has a feature as well highlighting relevant programming. Check the site for details on program dates. Note that many programs can be viewed online as well.
•  Learn about national historic sites related to Hispanic Heritage and more at the National Park Service‘s portal. You can also find stories, photos, and other resources. For example, see a list of highlighted places listed in the National Historic Register related to Hispanic Heritage. Maybe you want to plan a visit to one of the sites sometime.
• The U.S Military also takes the time to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month.Did you know there are 1.1 million Hispanics or Latinos 18 years and older who are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces (factoid from the U.S. Census Bureau)? The following links give a small sampling.  Here is a small article from the U.S. Army, which also presents a page with a history of Hispanics and Latinos in the military. The U.S. Coast Guard also takes a moment to observe the celebration.  Rear Admiral Joseph Castillo discusses his experiences and the role of diversity in the service in this posting out of the Coast Guard Compass, the USCG’s blog. Next, via the Association of Naval Services Officers, the message from the Chief of Naval Operations recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month.
• The sports world also recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month. After all, Hispanic Americans and Latinos have made great contributions in sports. The NFL has a small set of photos from a recent game in Dallas. ESPN has a more extensive portal dedicated to Hispanic Heritage Month.
• The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute has various events for the month. This organization provides various programs and opportunities for Latino youths including internships, fellowships, and programs for high school students.
• The National Council of La Raza is the largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. You may want to visit their site and learn more. In addition to their advocacy work, they offer various publications that may be of interest to students and researchers.
• And because we want to encourage reading, we have to offer you at least one reading list. This list from the Florida Department of Education’s Just Read, Families! program has a selection for everyone from elementary to adults. You can visit our website and check the library catalog to see which titles we may have.