ALEXANDRA ALCALA / A&C ASSISTANT EDITOR

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated by families and institutions across the nation. During this month, Hispanic communities are recognized for their hard work and contributions to society. Heritage months are important because they allow people to be educated and to remember the struggles and the stories of these communities. 

USD celebrates this month with different events including pop-ups that feature traditional food and informative events. “Sweet Talks: Hispanic Heritage Month” took place on Oct.  8  and “DiversiTea: ¿Latino, Latinx, Latine?” took place on Oct. 3, allowing Toreros to talk about their experiences as Latine students.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it celebrates Hispanic people not just in Mexico but anywhere in the world,” USD first-year Daira Lima said. “Hispanic heritage means to me that I can celebrate my heritage and meet other people I didn’t know who are also celebrating. [It’s] a way to unite as Hispanics all around the world and also display our heritage and culture to others.”

San Diego has a large Hispanic population with over 30% of its residents being Latino. The influence hispanic culture has on San Diego can be seen in places such as Chicano Park, which lies in the city of Barrio Logan. It hosts events where culture is celebrated, and it gives attendees an outlet to be themselves and to share their identity with others. Just like in Chicano Park, there are several celebrations around San Diego like “Nuestra Cultura Heritage Month” at San Diego Public Library and “Annual Hispanic Heritage Award” to recognize Hispanic businesses at the California Center of Arts.

Hispanic Heritage Month display at USD Copley Library highlighted Hispanic literature. Shannen Swars/The USD Vista

“I think that Hispanic Heritage Month is a lovely and inclusive way to recognize Hispanic culture in our community, especially because Hispanics make up so much of our community,” USD sophomore Lupita Bañuelos said. “It’s  nice to celebrate what makes us special and unique and share it with others.”

The significance of Hispanic Heritage Month is different for everyone. Bañuelos explained what this month means to her.

“To me Hispanic Heritage Month means being recognized and appreciated for the rich culture that we are,” Bañuelos said. “It means shining a spotlight on the hard work Hispanics contribute to our nation and society and coming together to celebrate that.” 

Just as USD has several events to celebrate Hispanic culture, there are also other events to learn about and celebrate different cultures throughout the year such as the “Filipino-American History Month Pop-Up.” This allows  all students to feel represented and  also    encourages  diverse   communities to  mix  and to  form meaningful connections.

“With Hispanic Heritage Month, I am able to not forget about where I come from,” USD sophomore Eunic Rivera said. “Not   only   that,  but  I am  also able  to  learn more  about  different people’s cultures and history. It means a lot to me because I can feel a sense of belonging and I am able to meet more people that have the same [or] similar backgrounds as me. I am proud to be Hispanic. We are resilient and hard working people — even though we might come from small underrepresented communities — we are able to show our persistence and our ability to achieve great things.”

In light of Hispanic Heritage Month, it is  important to highlight the contributions of Hispanic citizens to our society everyday. Whether it’s recognizing  workers,  professionals, students or celebrities, all of these individuals work  hard  and use their talents to bring us Hispanic art, inspiration and representation in the media and workforce, which deserves  acknowledgment. 

“I recommend Banda and Luis Miguel,” Lima said. “A Hispanic actress I would like to highlight is Danna Paola.” 

Banda is a subgenre of Mexican music which features mostly wind and percussion instruments. In addition, famous Mexican artists and actors, 54-year-old Luis Miguel  and 29-year old Danna Paola, were highlighted by Lima for their talent and their vast recognition across country lines. 

Danna Paola’s new album ‘Childstar’ on the New York Times Square billboard. Photo courtesy of @danna/Instagram

Just like Miguel and Paola, Eugenio Derbez is widely known for his work in both Mexican and American television. 

“One Hispanic actor that I would like to highlight is Eugenio Derbez,” Rivera said. “I grew up watching several TV shows and movies from him including, ‘Familia Peluche’ and ‘No se Aceptan Devoluciónes.’ He is one of the most influential comedy television actors and producers. He also represents the diversity of Mexican culture and is an inspiration for Latinos around the world.”

Similarly, Bañuelos shared her favorite  film that represents Hispanic communities. 

“A movie I would also recommend to anyone is Coco. I think this movie fully captures the essence of our vibrant and loving culture as Hispanics,” Bañuelos said. 

Similar to these actors, actresses and singers, there are many significant Hispanic leaders who are carving the path and deserve recognition for their contributions, not only this month, but also everyday of the year. This month is a wonderful time to celebrate the people around you who either share or have different cultural backgrounds. As this month comes to an end, that does not mean that Hipanic heritage, traditions and cultural practices will not continue to be a part of our everyday lives,  especially here in San Diego.

Miguel from the Disney Pixar film, ‘Coco.’ Photo courtesy of @pixarcoco/Instagram