Collective Heritage

National Hispanic Heritage Month (NHHM) is celebrated in the U.S. from September 15th through October 15th. This year’s theme is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” inviting us to look at our heritage as a country and our future as a community. From our early years as European colonies, through our fight for independence, continuing into the 21st century, our history has been intrinsically connected with all its triumphs and tragedies. We share borders and economies, foods and traditions, and we have influenced each other’s language and artistic expressions. At the library, we selected materials exploring this complex relationship between the North and the South of the Americas for our September NHHM display. Come learn about the people who continue to leave a remarkable legacy of innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurship, and the stories they share with us.

“America, América: A New History of the New World” by Pulitzer Prize winner Greg Grandin (970 Grandin) covers five centuries of history of the Western Hemisphere, revealing how North and South America emerged from a constant, turbulent engagement with each other. “The Crossing: El Paso, the Southwest, and America’s Forgotten Origin Story” by Richard Parker (976.496 Parker) is a historical account of both endless conflict and cross-cultural accommodation starting in sixteenth century El Paso, Texas, where a vibrantly diverse society was forged with roots in both Mexican and American cultures. In a narrative spanning over two hundred years, Paul Ortiz’s “An African American and Latinx History of the United States” (305.8 Ortiz) offers an account of how historically marginalized groups have joined forces in the continued struggle for universal civil rights.

From the past to the present, you can find stories of great accomplishments. “Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon” by Melissa Sevigny (578.09 Sev) recounts the adventures and struggles of the first non-indigenous women to run the Colorado River through the full length of the Grand Canyon: botanist Elzada Urseba Clover and her graduate student Lois Jotter. Elzada was also the first botanist to catalog the flora along the river in the Canyon and the first woman to become a full professor in the University of Michigan Botany Department. Luis A. Miranda Jr.’s memoir “Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America” (921 Miranda, L.) is a personal and political reflection on identity and resilience, challenging us to rethink our understanding of Latino representation in the U.S. In the sports arena, Jordan Chiles’ “I’m That Girl: Living the Power of My Dreams” (796.44092 Chiles, J.) shows us a glimpse of life in the physically and psychologically demanding world of women’s gymnastics, where the power of friendships and a spirit of perseverance are invaluable assets on and off the mat. If you are a fan of Ricky Ricardo, “Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television” by Todd Purdum (791.45092 Arnaz, D.) offers a captivating biography of the visionary Cuban American artist and entrepreneur who revolutionized television.

You will also find in our display personal accounts of human suffering and loss, recounting experiences of migration as well as celebrations of love and close-knit families. “Mojada: Memoir of a Honduran Immigrant” (921 Sanders, K) recounts the American Dream of Keyla Sanders, who came overland to the U.S. at sixteen. Sanders tells us of her dangerous journey and the struggles she faced navigating the immigration system. Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez tells us about the strong, kind, sensitive, judgmental, and messy beautiful women who raised her in “Tías and Primas: On Knowing and Loving the Women Who Raise Us” (305.42 Mojica Rodríguez). The experiences of a U.S.-born child of Mexican immigrants who was separated from her family is detailed in “My Side of the River: A Memoir” by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez (921 Gutierrez, E.). Gutierrez recounts her experiences with homelessness as a teenager and her pursuit of education highlighting themes of family, identity and immigration throughout her journey.

Finally, you will find on our display and on our shelves a plethora of poetry, novels, cookbooks, films and more by and about Latines, their histories and their experiences in the U.S. Come to the library and enjoy all that we offer to promote the love of reading and learning in our community! We are open Mon-Thu 9am to 9pm, Fri-Sat 9am to 5pm and on Sunday 1-5 pm.