DO JUSTICE

Article Written By: Carol Furrow, Member of Calvary's Racial Justice Team

Viva la raza!
Last Friday marked the beginning of what has been known since the 1970’s as Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 - October 16. This observance is split between two months because of the many important cultural dates that happen during this period. No less than seven Central or South American countries celebrate their independence between these two dates. In addition, October 12 is the celebration of Dia de la raza (or Columbus Day). That means there’s a lot to celebrate and a lot to learn during this month!

What does the name even mean? - Hispanic vs. Latino
The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" refer to ethnicity, culture, and identity. They are groups based on shared culture rather than skin color, race, or other physical features.

Hispanic: Refers to people who speak Spanish or who have a background in a Spanish-speaking country. In other words, Hispanic refers to the language that a person speaks or that their ancestors spoke. Some Hispanic people speak Spanish, but others do not.

Latino: In contrast, Latino refers to geography: specifically, people from Latin America including Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Like being Hispanic, Latino speaks nothing about your race. Latinos may be White, Black, Indigenous, Asian, etc.

A person who is Latino may or may not be Hispanic. For instance, while people from Brazil are considered Latino (because Brazil is a Latin American country), they are not considered Hispanic because Brazil is a former Portuguese colony, not a Spanish one.

People who are Black and Latino often identify as Afro-Latino, while other Black people of Latin American descent forego the Latino/Hispanic labels all together. Latinx, Latin@ or Latine have been used more recently to address the issue of gendered nouns in Spanish.

Ways to celebrate:

Pick a country: A quick trip to the library, or an even quicker walk through Google can give you lots of information, in many different media, about a country. Find one you haven’t visited or know little about, and dive into the culture and history! While the countries have quite a bit in common (colonized by Spain, strongly Catholic, language) there are also a number of unique things about each country. Share what you learn with family, friends, or a media post.

Food: We may all have our favorite Mexican restaurants in Wichita, but there are also restaurants serving other ethnic foods that have a good reputation, and might be nice to experiment. You can find El Salvadoran, Peruvian. Catered Argentinian empanadas are also available. Sabor isn’t a hispanic/latino owned business but features cuisine from many parts of Latin America.

Books: The library and bookstores have many books of all genres that can help you learn about and enjoy the culture of Latin American countries. Consider finding a cookbook about Latin food and cook your own dinner!

Music: As with all of Hispanic culture, music varies among the countries. But it is almost always joyous and lively. Create a Hispanic month playlist on your music streaming app. Mexican mariachi, Argentinian tango, Merengue, Cumbia, Salsa, Here’s an article about the various styles and history of the music.

Movies: There are some wonderful movies that tell about the history and culture of Latin America. Here are some favorites, which may still be available on some streaming devices.
Tortilla Soup - American family with strong Mexican roots and their life in this country. Lots of great food prep!
Bajo la misma luna (Under the Same Moon) - Story of a boy who travels to the US to find his mother.
La Historia oficial (The Official Story) - Depiction of Argentina’s dictatorship and treatment of children through the eyes of a teacher and mother.
The Mission - Story of Jesuits in Argentina and their interactions with the Guarani