Campus Connection

UW-L will mark the national celebration of Hispanic culture and history with a series of lectures, films, tango and musical performances, and more. All events are free and open to the public. Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, is the time period when eight Latin American countries celebrated their independence from Spain in the 19th Century. The celebration is a reminder of that history as well as the contributions of Hispanics, Latinos and Latinas in the U.S. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on national issues related to social integration, equality and inclusion, says Omar Granados, director of the UW-L Institute for Latin American Studies. 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, 1309 Centennial Hall

• Anne Garland Mahler (University of Arizona): “From Rap to Revolution: Afro-Puerto Rican Writing in 1960s Harlem”

6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 103 Mitchell Hall

• Michael O’Brien (College of Charleston): “Listening to Tango: hearing place, time, and movement in an Argentine genre
• Music, tango dancing and interactive presentation by Quinteto Yzafa

5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, 1303 Centennial Hall

• Danny Méndez (Michigan State University): “Emotional Creolizations: racial, ethnic, and sexual Identities in Dominican narratives of migration to the U.S.”

5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 1309 Centennial Hall

• Danny Méndez (Michigan State University): Film presentation and discussion “Raising Victor Vargas”

5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, Roncalli Newman Center

• Hispanic Heritage month faculty and student mentorship social (Institute for Latin American and Latino Studies, Latin American Student Association and Eagle Mentorship Program)

5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, Graff Main Hall Auditorium

• Antonio Gutiérrez (Chicago Immigrant Youth Justice League and Mexico-US Solidarity Network): “Undocumented, unafraid, & unapologetic: fighting for immigrant rights with dignity”

Celebrating at UW-L

[caption id="attachment_36515" align="alignright" width="300"] Grupo Candela performs at a fiesta spring semester 2014 in Valhalla, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. The event was organized by UW-L’s Latin American Student Organization.[/caption] Hispanic Heritage Month is increasingly becoming a popular celebration on college and university campuses because of the opportunity to educate and raise awareness surrounding the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America, says Granados. “On campuses that have a predominantly white population, Hispanic Heritage Month is one of the few opportunities students and faculty have to be exposed to the many aspects of Hispanic and Latino culture and history,” he says. UW-L events kicked off Sept. 15 with a lecture on the history of the transatlantic slave trade during the 18th century in the Americas and specifically in Brazil by Nafees Khan, of Emory University. In addition, the Madison-based troupe “Roots of Brazil” put on a Capoeria performance.

U.S. Hispanic, Latino/a communities grow

Calling the month ‘Hispanic’ Heritage Month is somewhat limiting in that the term ‘Hispanic’ references just Spain and its former colonies, notes Granados. Latin America, on the other hand, is made up of all of the American countries south of the U.S. where Spanish, Portuguese, French, and other indigenous languages are spoken. Spanish is not an official language in places such as Brazil, Belize and some islands in the Caribbean. In addition, Latin America has strong influences from African migrations. All of these cultures and racial diversity are at times not understood as part of the complex cultural heritage of Latin American culture in the U.S., says Granados. Yet, these cultures are entering way the U.S. in greater numbers, and their cultural impact cannot be denied. In 2014, for example, UW-L has welcomed, for the first time, a group of Brazilian students. “These students are already transforming classrooms and residence halls, and they are a clear indication of how identities and communities continue to evolve beyond terminologies like ‘Hispanic’,” notes Granados. The organizers of Hispanic Heritage Month have made an effort in 2014 to celebrate the racial and cultural diversity throughout Latin America. This year UW-L also welcomed several new faculty members working on Latin America and Latino/Latina issues in the U.S. in the departments of Sociology, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Modern Languages and Music. Hispanic Heritage Month events at UW-L are organized by the Institute for Latin American Studies (ILAS) and the Department of Ethnic and Racial Studies, in coordination with the Latin American Student Organization (LASO). Additional support comes from the Office of International Studies; the Office of the Provost; the UW-L Foundation; the College of Liberal Studies (CLS) and the Office of Multicultural Students Services (OMSS).