Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month: At Home and Around Houston

One of my favorite books, Mujerista Theology by Ada María Isasi-Díaz, says this: “As a foreigner in an alien land, I have not inherited a garden from my mother but rather a bunch of cuttings. Beautiful but rootless flowering plants—that is my inheritance. Rooting and replanting them requires extra work on the part of the gardener; it requires much believing in myself to make my life flourish…” I think the reason I love it and this quote in particular so much is because it encompasses the Latinx American experience so well. When you’re Latinx American, you fight to keep a part of you alive that is constantly in danger of dying. The more Latinx generations who are born and live here in the states, the harder it becomes to keep our roots alive.

Latinx Heritage Month takes place in the United States from September 15th to October 15th every year. While it is an opportunity for those who aren’t Latinx to celebrate our cultures, accomplishments, and beauty, it is for me a reminder to keep my ancestors alive in everything I do. It reminds me to tend and keep their gardens alive too, as Isasi-Díaz would say, especially in the way I am raising my son. We use it as a time to learn more about both of his cultures, Mexican and Ecuadorian, while learning new things about the other 31 countries that make up the entirety of Latin America.

Bringing Latin America to Our Home

There are many ways we celebrate Latinx Heritage Month in our home. A trip to the library in which we look for authentic Latinx stories {not just texts translated from English to Spanish} is one. I am always pleasantly surprised by how well-stocked our public libraries are with cultural stories from different countries. Many are even featured across library branches for this particular month!

Another way is food. It’s always hard to answer the question, “What’s your favorite food?” simply because our gente make the BEST food. From Ecuador’s encebollados and ceviches to Mexico’s chile rellenos and frijoles charros, I simply can’t decide. As someone who grew up in New Jersey around a diverse group of Latinx Americans, I am also partial to Colombian bandera paisas, Cuban ropa vieja, and Dominican mangú. Looking up authentic recipes or checking out Houston’s Latinx-owned restaurants is one way you cannot go wrong celebrating Latinx Heritage Month. Make sure to tip especially well!

Last, but certainly not least, supporting Latinx-owned businesses is a great way to show solidarity. Being that Latinas earn $0.55 for every dollar paid to white men, every dollar that goes into Latinx-owned businesses is so important to our flourishing as a people. Etsy and Instagram make it all too easy to find styles you like and support Latina women. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Skincare: Vamigas
• Earrings: Las Ofrendas & Polished Needle
• Apparel: Shop JZD {Their products are also being featured by Target for Latinx Heritage Month!}
• Stickers and Prints: Sugar & Canela
• Bookstore and Gifts: Espacio 1839

Latinx Heritage Month Celebrations around Houston

Because Houston is 44.5% Hispanic/Latino, we as Houstonians have many Latinx cultures at our fingertips. Here is a list of Latinx Heritage Month celebrations happening around our city this year, which I hope you and your family will check out:

• 2022 Hispanic Heritage Celebration at the Marilyn Davies College of Business
• Boogie Bash-Hispanic Heritage Hop
• Grito Fest 2022
• Fiesta at HCPL!
• Chalk on the Block in Midtown Houston: Hispanic Heritage (Heroes and Icons)
• Squeeze Box Market Day – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
• El Festival De La Salsa
• Hispanic Heritage Fiesta/Herencia Hispana

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