Latino Heritage Month helps educate students on the experiences of Latino Americans
Photo by: Brittany Coates
Latino Heritage Month, like Black History Month, was created to cherish the lives and history of Latino Americans across the country. It takes place from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, which is a very important time period for many Spanish-speaking countries. “Many different Spanish-speaking countries celebrate their independence days…within those two dates. That’s why it’s mid-September to mid-October,” Dean Jennifer Reyes stated.
The celebrations at Metea happened between 3rd and 5th period. Classes would head into the library or into a forum room and listen to a variety of presentations about the lives and history of many Latino Americans.
One of the presentations was led by a group of “Abuelos,” or grandparents/elders. They spoke about what it was like growing up as a Latino American, what their life was like, and some of their struggles they had to deal with. The speakers had a variety of backgrounds, which ranged from coming to the US as a child, being born and raised in Chicago, and moving to the US later in life and moving up in the world to gain success. “It was in my mind that I was going to move to the United States and I wasn’t going to live a mediocre life. It doesn’t matter what I do, it doesn’t matter what it’ll take me. If it means taking two full jobs plus being a mom, I’m going to do it,” successful real estate broker and hotel owner Nely Tagle said.
Moments like that are why this month is seen by many Latino Americans see this month as important. This month and its celebrations we had for it helps educate on the uninformed about the lives and struggles of Latino Americans, which is more important than ever in this political environment. “Americans are very kept away from a lot of other things, and basically our ignorance expands into that prejudice and racism. So feel that educating others will hopefully take aways some of that ignorance,” Dean Reyes said.
Liam Sweeney is a senior at Metea Valley and the Perspectives Editor for the school magazine. He is a political independent, as...
Thomas Carragher • Dec 7, 2017 at 10:35 am
This is kind of a waste of time not for only the students, but for me as well. I felt that listening or hearing what the Latino-Americans say did not motivate me to do anything outside of school or with my career opportunities. Thus, it made me feel frustrated and angry that we took time out of our class periods just to go listen to what the Latino-Americans had to say. I feel that this should be changed because if were bringing people who are Latino-Americans why do polish-american (People who immigrated to America from Poland), or German-American people (People who immigrated to America from Germany). Overall, this is a serious bump in the road that just interferes with our work time and notes on important topics.
A person • Oct 13, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Yea why isn’t there like an Indian Heritage Month thing?
谢洋洋 • Oct 13, 2017 at 9:41 am
I disagree with Latino Heritage Month and Black History Month.
And here is why;
Any history or event that happens in AMERICA is AMERICAN HISTORY. We could learn more in the classroom instead. Morgan Freeman makes a statement about Black History Month he disagrees with it. He said that “Black history” is apart of American History. If there is Black History Month why can there be Asian Heritage Month, Jewish History Month, or Muslim Heritage Month?
You are just creating unnecessary events that waste time. Eventually every month is going to be “_______ Month”.
Someone • Oct 13, 2017 at 6:13 pm
True, this did waste many people’s time. This took my English period away from me, and I really needed class time that day to finish up an assignment. But thanks to this assembly I couldn’t work on that, I couldn’t eat my lunch (I usually eat during English since I have 3rd period “lunch”), I had to listen to something that really doesn’t apply to me, I couldn’t even use the bathroom! I figured I would just do homework while I was there, but about 5 minutes after I started working on it, my teacher not only told me to pack it up, she also made me sit up front!
Be thankful • Oct 13, 2017 at 6:20 pm
Well would you rather be at the pep assembly?
谢洋洋 • Oct 16, 2017 at 11:27 am
How about we don’t bring race into the education system?
Someone • Oct 24, 2017 at 1:43 pm
True, this also promotes racism in a way. They do a Latino Heritage assembly, yet they don’t take time for any other races.
Me. • Nov 8, 2017 at 10:05 am
Maybe they don’t ¨take the time for any other races¨ because not all races were oppressed or discriminated against on a great scale. Every person deserves to know about their heritage, hardships, and history, not just things like European colonialism and the world wars. This promotes racism in no way shape or form, and if you think it does then the point totally went over your head.
Bro... • Oct 14, 2017 at 12:13 am
Because these races are the races that get the most discrimination and hate. We do these things because we want to embrace their culture. Also, Muslim is a RELIGION, not an ethnicty/race. Thanks, just needed to educate you on that.
谢洋洋 • Oct 16, 2017 at 11:25 am
“Because these races are the races that get the most discrimination and hate.”
It depends on location (country). Many countries in the middle east and south Asia discriminates against Christianity (it’s not a race but do you get the point). You simply see more ‘discrimination and hate’ in this country against those races, while you don’t see how other countries handle this hate (which is much worse).
Latinos obviously don’t face discrimination in Latin America.
Muslims don’t face discrimination in Pakistan, where 97% of the population in Muslim. They are not as diverse as us.
Your argument is invalid.
I agree on the fact that we should embrace culture, but we shouldn’t have to participate in something that we don’t want to. IF we have to why shouldn’t there be more choices? People should be able to chose their interests. Only 16% of Americans are Latino.
“Also, Muslim is a RELIGION, not an ethnicty/race. Thanks, just needed to educate you on that.”
I never stated that, thank you.
Heritage is property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance.
Example: valued objects and qualities such as cultural traditions, unspoiled countryside, and historic buildings that have been passed down from previous generations.
If you are going to argue, educate yourself. Its not that hard.
谢洋洋 • Oct 16, 2017 at 11:55 am
Muslims don’t face discrimination in Pakistan, where 97% of the population *are* Muslim. They are not as diverse as us.
My mistake.
Caleb • Oct 17, 2017 at 9:59 am
You see, things like Black history month and Latino history month bring a lot of controversy to a place where we should care about our education and learning, and yes you can argue these months as educational, but they’re just sources of anger for me. What annoys me is that we label things as black, not Ethiopian, Moroccan, Nigerian, Kenyan, Ugandan, or Libyan. Just black. and this annoys me in ways I cant explain appropriately on Metea Media. Same with Latino culture, while it has a less controversial name, still annoys me. The only other explanation for this is the recognition of colored people in the United States, which in turn shouldn’t be a thing because we’re all American anyway. We shouldn’t label cultures by color. Black culture inst a thing, and it shouldn’t be because saying that Black culture is a culture is actually racist. For example Post Malone getting a bunch of hate for having dreads, because dread locks are a form of Black Culture. When really Dreads actually originate from India. Anyway, when is Scottish appreciation month, or British appreciation month? When are the Scottish, who left there entire lives behind to come to the US in the early 1900’s ever appreciated? They’re not appreciated because They’re white. This is why we cant have these months. When is Richard Trevithick, a British inventor and engineer, who created the first large source of powered transportation, the steam locomotive, ever appreciated? Of course Neil DeGrasse Tyson is known as a famous black astrophysicist, yet he’s an American, just like Stephen Hawking. Yet Neil is recognized as doing something more, or he’s thought to have worked harder just because of his skin color. It’s upsetting.
Me. • Nov 8, 2017 at 10:24 am
There are SO many things wrong with this. Number one, we refer to things as ¨black¨ because EUROPEANS took African individuals from multiple places in Africa and made them slaves. Black people do not know their center of culture because of slavery and the erase of African culture within societies DUE TO Europeans. And how is African culture racist? Do you know the dictionary definition of racism?? Reverse racism does not exist, and there is no shame or discrimination involved in taking part of ones once forgotten culture. Black people and all people have the right to partake in celebrating a culture that they were once killed and discriminated against for, and who are you to tell them that its not okay?? And btw, dreads also originate from Africa, but you wouldn’t know that since you’re so against black culture. Culture appropriation is alive and well, but maybe you don’t see that because your culture isn’t being appropriated. Its very simple; it is not right for a person to partake in a culture that is not their own because heritage is NOT a fashion trend. Its not okay for a white person to wear an African hairstyle because black people are denied JOBS, HOUSES, EDUCATION, and many more social freedoms JUST for wearing dreads. Why should it be okay for a white person to wear it and be congratulated for it, but a black person to wear it and get slandered for it? People all over the world are discriminated against for engaging in their own culture, but as soon as a white person does it, it’s ¨trendy¨ and ¨cute¨. That is NOT okay and that is racism. Everyone deserves to know their own culture, not just European culture. And yes, black and latino people should be appreciated for doing things just because they are people of color because PoC don’t always have the same opportunities as non poc. Its called not having privilege. ¨Its upsetting¨ .
Jack • Nov 8, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Well maybe if you paid attention in history class you would know that most African Americans do not know where they are from because of the unfortunate history of how they came over to this country. On top of that Black History Month celebrates a fight that white people never had to go through between slavery and the civil rights movement. As a country the least that we owe the culture that has been discriminated against the most and has had the hardest climb to success, is a month to celebrate these victories and accomplishments that are celebrated on a daily basis in another cultures and in history. As another White Male I find your comments to be extremely ignorant, uneducated and racist. I don’t what the struggle is like, but I have friends that I consider like family that I have witness first hand had to work 10 times harder at something that I have just to get the same result. Its unfair. And although America has come along way comments like this are going to be what takes us back. Same goes for Latino Heritage Month.
Someone • Oct 18, 2017 at 1:25 pm
Well then they could just keep it like last year and just make an optional assembly. As harsh as it may seem, it is true. Some of us have other things we NEED to get done, and not all of us have a whole periods worth of time to sit around and listen to speeches about cultural history or heritage. This thing really doesn’t have much relevance to me, or a lot of others. I really hope they bring back the system from last year because I really didn’t enjoy this.
Someone • Oct 27, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Dude, first of all, everyone gets discriminated against/bullied at some point, regardless of their ethnicity or culture or heritage, you hear plenty of people saying derogatory things to all sorts of people, Africans, Asians, Indians, it doesn’t matter, racism is racism. And secondly, not everyone has time for this, and what are we supposed to be taking away from this? We show up, we hear a bunch of speeches and stories, I understand that some groups had an activity about matching phrases in different languages or something similar to that. But then when we leave, what are we supposed to be taking away from this? Unless you are interested in changing religion/assimilating into another culture, we don’t need to attend this. So either just don’t bring race into the education system, or celebrate all of the cultures out there and have them choose what they want to listen to. Not everyone wants to “embrace” another culture that they don’t follow.
Someone • Oct 27, 2017 at 8:17 pm
So we want to embrace a culture full of homophobes?
Eli • Oct 15, 2017 at 5:10 pm
amen
Why did they make everyone go there? • Oct 12, 2017 at 6:07 pm
For the last 2 years they just did it during 4th period and made it optional, extending 4th period to an hour long. Now not only did I have to attend something I didn’t want to, I didn’t get time to work on an assignment in English, AND they closed the LMC! My 4th period class is across the school in the D hallway on my left and my 5th period class is upstairs in the H hallway on the opposite side of the hallway! How do I get to class on time without forcefully pushing my way through the crowded hallway when I have to go around the LMC?!