Hispanic Latin(x/e) Heritage Month
Hispanic Latin(x/e) Heritage Month (HLHM), also known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, is observed from September 15 through October 15 each year. This month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ties to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central/South America. It started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson, and President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance to 30 days in 1988.
Significantly, some Independence Day celebrations fall within this 30-day window: Costa Rica (September 15); El Salvador (September 15); Guatemala (September 15); Honduras (September 15); Nicaragua (September 15); Mexico (September 16); and Chile (September 18).
CEHHS created a curated list of resources centering Hispanic Latin(x/e) voices and stories to recognize and celebrate this month. We organized these resources into several categories to focus on the unique experiences of the broad community. These resources are available through the UT Library and online.
2024 Resource Update – Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together
The 2024 Hispanic Latin(x/e) Heritage Month theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” celebrates the visionary leaders within the Hispanic community who have sparked transformative change across diverse fields. This theme pays tribute to individuals and groups whose bold actions have driven progress and fostered inclusivity, building a more equitable society. It highlights the collective strength and unity essential to shaping a brighter future, while honoring the innovation, leadership, and collaborative spirit that continue to propel the Hispanic Latin(x/e) community forward.
Learn More
- Antonia Hernández – Finding systemic solutions to LA County’s biggest issues | Podcast Episode
- Border-Crosser with a Lamborghini Dream by Juan Felipe Herrera | Poetry
- Dolores Huerta – Activist & Co-Founder of United Farm Workers | Video
- Roberto Clemente | Documentary
- Severo Ochoa, MD – Unraveling RNA | Biographical Article
Hispanic, Latin(o/a), or Latin(x/e)?
Hispanic, Latin(o/a), and Latin(x/e) all refer to the ethnicity and culture of people celebrated during HLHM. Each holds a distinct significance and unique meaning.
Hispanic typically refers to a person who is descended from a Spanish-speaking population or speaks Spanish. This identity centers on the language identity rather than geographical location.
Latin(o/a) refers to geographical culture, describing individuals from or descended from people living in Latin America.
Latin(x/e) became an alternative form of Latin(o/a) to be more inclusive and gender-neutral. While Latinx became popular in the 2010s, Latine aligns better with the grammatical format of Spanish, and many Spanish speakers use this term. Individuals can identify as either, neither, or all of these identities. For example, Chicano (descendants of people from Mexico) could identify with all terms or none based on their cultural experience. Additionally, these terms do not assume race, as these ethnic identities are inclusive of various racial groups such as Afro-Latines.
Learn More
- About One-in-Four U.S. Hispanics Have Heard of Latinx, but Just 3% Use It | Article
- On The Census, Who Checks ‘Hispanic,’ Who Checks ‘White,’ And Why | Article
- Latinidad in the US, Latinx, Latina/o, or Hispanic?: Geographies of Oppression, Race, Gender, and Language | Blog Post
- This Comic Breaks Down Latinx vs. Latine for Those Who Want to Be Gender-Inclusive | Article
- The Differences Between the Terms Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx, Explained | Article
- What Is the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino? | Article
Hispanic Latin(x/e) Voices
The below resources highlight some of the voices in the Hispanic Latin(x/e) community through different media formats.
Previously Highlighted Resources
2023 Highlighted Resources
- Anything for Selena | Podcast
- Black Dove: Mamá, Mi’jo, and Me by Ana Castillo | Memoir
- Fiebre Tropical by Julián Delgado Lopera | Physical Book
- Latino Americans | Documentary
- Why Do We Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? | Video
2022 Highlighted Resources
- La Brega | Podcast
- The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas | Physical Book
- ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues | Virtual Exhibit
- ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States | Virtual Exhibit
- Selena | Movie
General Educational Resources
- Afro-Latin@s in Movement: Critical Approaches to Blackness and Transnationalism in the Americas | Physical Book
- An African American and Latinx History of the United States | Physical Book
- Latinx: The New Force in American Politics and Culture | Physical Book
- Making Hispanics : How Activists, Bureaucrats, and Media Constructed a New American | Physical Book
- Retablos: Stories from a Life Lived Along the Border | Physical Book
- The Latino/A American Dream | Physical BookUniversal citizenship: Latina/o Studies at the Limits of Identity | E-Book
Essays, Poetry & Memoirs
- Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza | Essays
- Her Body and Other Parties | Short Stories/Essay
- Sabrina & Corina | Short Stories
- Unaccompanied | PoetryWhen I Was Puerto Rican | Memoir
Movies, Documentaries & Videos
- Coco | Movie
- Craft in America: Borders | Documentary
- For Daca Students, It’s Hard To Focus On A Bright Future When Faced With Deportation Fears | Video
- Frida | Movie
- Maria Full of Grace | MovieSpanish Voices: Spanish and English in the Southeastern United States | Documentary
Multimedia Resources
- Cerámica de los Ancestros – Central America’s Past Revealed | Virtual Exhibition
- Library of Congress – Latinx and Chicanx in STEM | Research Guide
- Library of Congress – Latinx Resource Guide: Civil Rights | Research Guide
- Library of Congress – The PALABRA Archive | Research GuideOur Journeys Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement | Nuestros Caminos Nuestras Historias: Retratos del Logro Latino | Virtual Exhibition
Physical & E-Books
- Casa de los espíritus by Isabel Allende
- Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
- Dominicana by Angie Cruz
- In the Time of Butterflies by Julia AlvarezMexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Curated September 2021 by Miranda N. Rutan, Doctoral Student, CEHHS A&E, UT Knoxville | Updated September 2024 by Miranda N. Rutan, Doctoral Candidate, CEHHS A&E, UT Knoxville