Hispanic heritage month

Hispanic Heritage Month is a US holiday created to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans. This annual holiday takes place from September 15 to October 15. But it began as a commemorative week in 1968 to coincide with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. Nearly 20 years later in 1987, US Representative Esteban E. Torres of California proposed expanding the observance to cover its current 31-day period. And the rest is history!

In recognition of this holiday, we asked Fíontans to share some of their favorite Hispanic authors and books to celebrate. Explore a list of some of our favorite books, plus check out a few organizations we’ve worked with that are making a difference in the Hispanic community.

Fíontans’ recommended reading

• Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez
• Cien Años de Soledad  (100 Years of Solitude) by Gabriel García Marquez
• Historias de Cronopios y de Famas (Cronopios and Famas) by Julio Cortazar 
• House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
• Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
• Loose Woman by Sandra Ciseneros
• Massacre of the Dreamers; Essays on Xicanisma by Ana Castillo
• Retrato en Sepia (Portrait in Sepia) by Isabel Allende
• The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende
• With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Organizations to follow

NALAC – The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, developing, and cultivating the Latino arts field.

Hola Asistente – Mobile Pathways works to help immigrants gain access to reliable legal information related to their numerous pathways to immigration via mobile phone messaging. 

SmartFish – Fostering a market for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible seafood in Mexico.