Baylor prof offers resources for learning more about Hispanic heritage
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 as a time for celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans whose family cultures hail from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. (Why does it begin on Sept. 15, you ask? Because that’s the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries.)
Dr. Moisés Park is an associate professor in Baylor’s Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, often teaching classes on Hispanic literature. We asked him to share some resources with the Baylor Family for those who are wanting to learn more about Hispanic heritage and culture; he suggested the books, films, websites and other resources below.
“As someone who grew up in a Latin American country — specifically, Chile — with Korean parents, reading these texts was understanding what the Hispanic community has gone through,” Park explains. “It was a way for me to go through the journey of understanding a community that I now belong to. Now that I am a U.S. citizen, married, with kids, I’m trying to educate myself with the resources that exist. This is something I want to give my children — a list I would give my kids.”
Books:
- Floricanto en Aztlán (Alurista)
- Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza (Gloria Anzaldúa)
- Caramelo and The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros)
- The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Junot Díaz)
- Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America (Juan González)
- Poemas Marciales (Dr. Moisés Park — Baylor Spanish professor)
- With His Pistol in His Hand: A Border Ballad and its Hero (Américo Paredes)
- Sor Juana and Other Plays (Estela Portillo-Trambley)
- Coser y Cantar (Dolores Prida)
- I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter (Erika L. Sánchez)
- Paraíso (Dr. Jacob Shores-Argüello — Baylor English professor)
- When I Was Puerto Rican (Esmeralda Santiago)
Films:
- La Bamba
- The Book of Life
- Dolores
- In the Heights
- The Mambo Kings
- Real Women Have Curves
- Selena
- Stand and Deliver
- Under the Same Moon
Podcasts/Radio:
- Alt.Latino (NPR)
- El Hilo (Vice News)
- Latino Rebels Radio (Futuro Media)
- Latino USA (Futuro Media/PRX)
- Locatora Radio
- Radio Ambulante (NPR)
Blogs/websites:
- hiddenhispanicheritage.com
- Nina Um (YouTube — Baylor student)
- Pero Like (YouTube)
- Qué Means What
- Remezcla
- Somos en escrito
Centers:
- Cara Mía Theatre (Austin)
- Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (Austin)
- Gente de Teatro (Houston)
- Latino Cultural Center (Dallas)
- La Puerta (First Baptist Church of Waco)
- Teatro Vivo (Austin)
- Waco Hispanic Museum
Sic ’em, Hispanic Heritage Month!