A Welcoming ‘Cultura’ - Hispanic Heritage Month ‘24

It’s here… AGAIN!!!!? IT’S HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, Y’ALL!!! ??????????

So, let me welcome you officially to it, consider yourselves

?BIENVENIDOS!

Hispanic Heritage Month i’s an American tradition that I want to help others live and enjoy. Yes, it starts on September 15 and goes till October 15. In 1968 a Hispanic Heritage Week was instituted officially during Lyndon B. Johnson's administration. Later on, it was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402 under President Ronald Reagan to have an entire month that starts on September 15.?

During these days we celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. The US Government made it official during these dates because:

“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 September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.” US Census Bureau

A “Bienvenidos” Attitude

This Hispanic Heritage thing might be new to you but don’t worry. I’m going to make sure that you get enough of our cultura to get into the familia. (Doesn’t it sound like music to you when you speak Spanish?).

That’s what I love about being a Latino (Hispanic, Iberoamerican, etc.). We’re a welcoming people. Our attitude for the most part has been like:

“You wanna join the party? Come on in! Just don’t hog the chips. We want everyone to have a good time.”

Yes, we’re givers by nature, and despite the fact that unwise giving can lead to tragedy, I’m a firm believer that we must remain a giving, sharing and giving culture. ?Why? Because we have history, cultural expressions and above all values that many in the world are longing for. Yes, there’s the party aspect and the amaaaaaaazing food that we have (want flavor, y’all? Hang out with us, Mi Gente).

But there's so much more than just food and drinks to our culture. During Hispanic Heritage Month, I’ll be sharing some of our cultural contributors to our nation and to the world, and provide you with some great cultural points/events to get you started. So, here we go:

For Starters…

I’m issuing this edition on September 16th, and today it’s MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!! Yes, it’s today and not Cinco de Mayo, people. I invite you to check out the site of the nearest Mexican Consulate and participate in the activities they have. Do NOT miss “El Grito” (The Shout”).

A Pioneer In Telecomms

If you’ve ever watched a TV show in color, or currently read in a polychromatic screen (like you’re doing now) you can thank a Mexican. His name was Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena , who developed three different approaches to live video transmissions in poly-chromatic format. His advances in telecomms were so beneficial, that the first footage live transmission from space in color, as well of the earth and the first Earth's picture from the space (“Earthrise”) from NASA's Apollo 8 mission , was done by implementing his technologies.

Para Escuchar (To Listen):

WARNING, SELF PLUG COMING:

Mi Gente, InnoLatino is coming back in audio format!!!?

Here’s the trailer for the new show “InnoLatino Radio” A show on Self-Improvement, Leadership and Cultura.

Be on the lookout for the LinkedIn Audio events we’ll hold on a weekly basis during Hispanic Heritage Month.

BIG FAVOR TO ASK: If there’s a theme you’d like me to touch on, please, please comment below.

More to listen

So here’s a confession: I studied 12 years of music theory in Venezuela, thinking I’ll follow my dad’s footsteps and become a singer and a Choir director. When I arrived in the USA I had to alter course, but that sensibility towards music has never been gone. That’s the type of sensibility that Felix Contreras brings with his colleague, Ana Maria Sayre in the NPR music show Alt.Latino . They have the authoritative pulse on Latino music in the US and the entire American continent(s). This one is my favorite episode , as it involves a lot of the music I grew up with in Venezuela.

To continue on the NPR vibe, check out how Latinos take over their Tiny Desk Concert series . This year's “El Tiny” series features a roster of 11 new artists, and includes iconic names in Latino music such as Juanes, Sheila E, Eladio Carrion, The Marias and more.?

For the record, in the end I did sing with the Utah Symphony | Utah Opera for six years . In fact, if you’re in Utah and want to enjoy a good symphony concert, check out “Celebración Sinfónica”, on September 26 at Utah Valley University’s NOORDA Theatre , and on September 27th and 28th at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, UT .??

Para Ver (To Watch)

A BIG shout out to Ben DeJesus and John Leguizamo for the upcoming PBS show: VOICES: American Historia . It comes out on September 27th.

If you have Netflix: you really need to see “Going Varsity in Mariachi ” and you’ll fall in love with the stories of kids from the South Texas borderlands as they sing and play their hearts out, all under the leadership of Mariachi Coach Abel Acu?a .

While you’re at it, watch Mon Laferte’s concert “Mon LaFerte, Te Amo ”. For those of you foodies, watch Street Food Latin America and Taco Chronicles , and I dare you not to want to have Latin American food after that.

Lastly, what to me is a classic in the sports documentary, 30 for 30: The Two Escobars

This ESPN documentary draws distant parallels between two renowned Colombians: soccer star Andrés Escobar and international drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Directed by Jeff Zimbalist, Michael Zimbalist. If you’re not into soccer (futbol), you’ll be after you watch this.

Here you have it, Mi Gente. What do you think? Share your opinions and have a HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!!!!!!