Media Credit: Photo illustration by Krishna Rajpara I Assistant Photo Editor
Watch a film about the 1991 protests that took place in DC after the police shooting of Salvadoran Daniel Gomez at Art All Night – the District’s annual arts festival in Mount Pleasant.
Thursday marks the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month, ringing in a cultural celebration of food, music and hard-fought social change that will run through mid-October.
A mix of vibrant events on campus and across DC honors the hallmarks of Hispanic culture that have shaped DMV communities for generations. Celebrate Hispanic culture on campus, learn to cook a traditional Mexican meal at the National Museum of American History, and learn about the history of discrimination that has targeted the Hispanic community throughout the region.
To make the most of what Hispanic Heritage Month has to offer, don’t miss these events:
All Month: Multicultural Student Services Center’s Latinx Heritage Celebration
Each year, MSSC selects a theme that guides the month-long celebration of the cultural mosaic on campus. MSSC Graduate Coordinator Keyla Ruiz said this year, student-led Latino organizations such as GW Alianza and the Organization for Latin American Students joined with MSSC to unveil the 2022 theme, “Community United, Cannot Be Divided.” She said the theme reflects the collaboration between Latino bodies and the MSSC to plan the month-long celebration, in addition to the hardships of recent years that have torn the communities apart. To kick off the festivities this month, Ruiz said OLAS is hosting a “Meet the Familia” Thursday for the GW Latino community to come together in the first of a series of events. She said student cultural performances, guest lectures and educational sessions will take place throughout the month, including a conversation about gun violence that will be hosted by Lambda Pi Chi, a Latino-based sorority at GW.
Learn more about the annual celebration schedule here.
Saturday, September 17: Cooking History: Celebrating Comida Chingona and the Lowrider Lifestyle
Feast your eyes on a free cooking demonstration with chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who highlights Mexican-American culture as she prepares her iconic smoky cochinita pibil—a traditional Mexican dish made of pork and vegetables grilled on leaves bananas – at the National Museum of American History. Esparza honors her heritage through food at her Phoenix-based restaurant and creates her own special versions of traditional dishes. She will share her interest in the lower priced cars that young Mexican Americans in the Phoenix area will drive. Known as “pachucos,” these men would run into law enforcement and advocate for Hispanic civil rights dating back to the 1950s. Esparza will discuss how the long-term lifestyle that came with these customizable vehicles is connected to Phoenix’s food culture.
1300 NW Constitution Street, between 12th and 14th streets. Noon to 1 p.m. Free. Find more information here.
Sunday, September. 18: Caribbean Latinx Heritage Panel – Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa and Carmen Rita Wong
Hear from a panel of Latino Caribbean authors in an intimate conversation about their heritage, culture and upbringing at Politics & Prose Bookstore near Chevy Chase. The event will highlight two outstanding writers, Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa and Carmen Rita Wong, who will discuss their shared Caribbean heritage. Much of Llanos-Figueroa’s work revolves around her upbringing in rural Puerto Rico and being influenced by the stories the older women in her family would share. Wong is the founder and CEO of the multimedia company Malecon Productions, LLC and the author of two best-selling financial advice books. The panel will examine what it means to be a Hispanic professional woman using literature as a form of cultural expression, as a writer and professor.
5015 Connecticut Ave NW. 3:00 PM Free, first come, first served. Find more information here.
Friday, September 23: Screening of the film La Manplesa: An Insurrection Remembered
Watch a film about the 1991 protests that took place in DC after the police shooting of Salvadoran Daniel Gomez at Art All Night – the District’s annual arts festival in Mount Pleasant. The local Latino community railed against law enforcement in protests after the shooting, setting fire to police cars and fleeing tear gas in the streets. “La Manplesa” explores how the protests took shape and honors the lesser-known stories of police brutality that have affected Hispanic victims. The film preserves the experiences of the Salvadoran community during the protests and highlights their contribution to social change. Hear testimonies, songs and poems from activists and advocates who capture the plight facing racial minorities in DC as you watch the film in the same neighborhood where the uprising took place.
The address is not yet available. Mount Pleasant. Free. Find more information here.
Saturday, September 24: Hispanic Heritage Month Comedy Show – “I SURVIVED LA CHANCLA”
Enjoy a night of comedy on the intimate stage of Simple Bar and Grill, one of DC’s local venues for Sunday comedy shows. This month, the stage will highlight a group of Latino comedians, including Gabriel Rojo, Roxette, Hector Castro and Elena Torres, who have performed at popular venues such as DC Improv and Broadway Comedy Club. The play’s title refers to the condemnation shared by immigrant Latina mothers who use “la chancla,” slippers or flip-flops. A cheeky yet authentic tribute to the Hispanic experience, the show is a vibrant way to support and honor Hispanic creators.
Simple Bar and Grill, 5802 Georgia Ave. NW. 7pm Admission is $10. Buy tickets here.
All month: alt. Latino: NPR’s Latinx Arts & Culture Broadcast
Tune into NPR’s alt.Latino to hear podcasts that cover the Latin music scene through creative storytelling within the Hispanic community. Delivering compelling stories every week, alt.Latino ensures that Hispanic voices are broadcast on one of the biggest news stages. Tune in year-round and hear NPR’s Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre sit down with Latino artists to discuss historically Hispanic genres — old and new — the history of Latino performers, and the gender and racial implications intertwined with Latino culture. As an epicenter of Hispanic culture, music and storytelling remain a vital way to express Latino heritage and experience, so explore the weekly podcast to honor these traditions.
Discover new articles and podcasts here.
This article appeared in the September 12, 2022 issue of Hatchet.
