Hispanic Heritage
Month
History of National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the culture, contributions, and heritage of Hispanic Americans. Now observed annually from September 15 to October 15, this national observance was first established by Public Law 90-498, approved September 17, 1968 by the 90th Congress. Public Law 90-468 authorized the president to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week each year. On August 17, 1988, the 100th Congress enacted Public Law 100-402, which extended the observance from a week to a month.
The months of September and October cover a wide range of independence days for Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all celebrate their independence on September 15. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21. El Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) is observed on October 12.
Featured Programs
Thursday, October 20, 6 pm (In-Person Event)
Generations of Revolutionary Chicano Poetry
Join us for a special evening as Poet Laureate and famed author of Always Running, Luis J. Rodriguez, and Matt Sedillo, poet and Literary Director of the Mexican Cultural Institute of Los Angeles, read from their collections of poetry.
Register here.
Make Your Own Talavera Tiles
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning about the Talavera tile, a traditional Mexican ceramic art form highly acclaimed for its quality and beauty from Daniel Hernandez, Chicano Resource Center Librarian. Create your own Talavera tile-inspired design with colored pencils or markers and a downloadable printable template. Pick up a kit at participating libraries or download the English instructions and template or Spanish instructions and template. For Adults.
Watch the video.
Events
Activity Ideas & Videos
All About Frida
Learn about Frida Kahlo, a Mexican artist and feminist icon, best known for her portraits, self-portraits, and her nature-inspired pieces, and one of the most famous and beloved artists of the world. Then create your own artistic masterpiece in the style of Frida Kahlo!
Explore Mariachi
Come celebrate the beauty of Mariachi music, and learn of its importance in the Mexican community, with this collection of resources to help you explore the heart and soul of this cherished art form!
Papel Picado
Make your own Papel Picado, a traditional Mexican craft generally displayed for celebrations and holidays!
Chicanx Tattoo Traditions with Dr. Xuan Santos:
Artist Talk with Margaret Garcia
The Bell Mural Project: A Discussion with Hector Arias aka “Tetris”
Librarians Share Book Talks: My Papi Has a Motorcycle and Alma & How She Got Her Name
Share Your Immigration & Citizenship Stories
Los Angeles County is a region of immigrants, and each has a unique and wonderful story to tell. We want to hear yours! Do you remember the day you left? How did you feel when you first became a naturalized citizen? No matter your country of origin or current status, consider sharing your journey with us. Submit your stories in any form such as written narratives (Doc, PDF), images, audio, or video. Submissions will be reviewed and then posted on our BiblioBoard community collections so others can learn and grow from your experiences.
Chicano Resource Center
The Chicano Resource Center at East Los Angeles Library was established to serve the needs of the Mexican-American (Chicano) community and to make information about the history and culture of this group available to the general public.
Digital Collections
Tell Your True Tale
From 2014 to 2017, LA County Library hosted 8 Tell Your True Tale Writing Workshops with author Sam Quinones. Participants in the workshops wrote, edited, and published nonfiction stories as part of a short story collection edited by Mr. Quinones. Stories from all 8 workshops are available to be read on our website.
Foto East LA
Foto East LA is a project to create an online collection of images depicting the history of one of the nation’s most culturally rich communities. From everyday events to extraordinary moments, we’re gathering historical images taken by locals—just like you—who have experienced East LA firsthand. Submit a photo to the collection today.
Additional Information
National Hispanic Heritage Month website, brought to you by the Library of Congress, Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and Records Administration, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Park Service, National Endowment for the Humanities, and National Gallery of Art.
US Census – Facts and Features, Hispanic Heritage Month 2021
Digital Resources
OverDrive Hispanic Heritage Month Collection – eBooks and Audiobooks
Kanopy Hispanic American Stories – Movies and TV
Mariachi Playlist on Freegal – Download and Streaming Music
