CSUSB celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15-Oct. 15

A festival of African and Latin rhythms kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month at Cal State San Bernardino when the university’s LatinX Center hosted the AfroLatinX Carnival on Coyote Walk. Students, faculty and staff began the month-long celebration at an event that focuses on the intersectionality among the Afrolatiné culture and community through art, live music and entertainment, food and university and community resources.

Several events will highlight the Afro-Latine culture and community from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, including the Sept. 21 opening reception for “Afróntalo,” an exhibition at the CSUSB Anthropology Museum. The exhibit will introduce museum visitors to “four communities in Mexico and 21 Californians, all in their own words, to explore the depth and breadth of Afrolatiné histories, cultures and identities,” according to the museum.

Also part of the celebration, the 12th annual Latino Education and Advocacy Days (LEAD) Summit will be held on Friday, Sept. 29, at the Santos Manuel Student Union South. The theme of this year’s LEAD Summit is “¡Ya Basta! – Enough is Enough!: Education and Violence in the Context of our Schools, Community Safety, and Law-Enforcement.” This year’s honorary chairs – Dolores Huerta, president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and Emilio Rivera, actor – will deliver keynote addresses at the summit.

The objective of Hispanic Heritage Month is to provide the CSUSB community students with the chance to explore and become immersed in Hispanic and Latinx culture via different points of reference.

Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal (D-Los Angeles) and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. The commemorative week was expanded by legislation sponsored by then-U.S. Rep. Esteban Edward Torres (D-Pico Rivera) and implemented by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). The bill died in committee, but in 1988, U.S. Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois re-submitted an amended version, which was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988.

Sept. 15 of every year was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, who all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16, Sept. 18 and Sept. 21, respectively.

For more information, visit the CSUSB Hispanic Heritage Month website.

Below is a list of some of the scheduled events; check the Events webpage for updates.

Sept. 15-Oct. 15, “In Lak'Ech | Tú Eres Mi Otro Yo | You Are My Other Me,” on display in the Santos Manuel Student Union South Lobby. The LatinX Center invites the CSUSB community to participate in this month-long installation of mirrors. “Tú Eres Mi Otro Yo” invites the community to participate in submitting affirmations and quotes onto the mirrors as a form of empowerment, healing and inclusion. Hosted by the LatinX Center.

Sept. 19, 10:30-11:45 a.m., “The AfroChicanx Oral History Project,” Physical Sciences building, PS-010. Series kickoff of the Afróntalo series tied to the Anthropology Museum’s exhibition with guest lecturer Doris Careaga-Colemanwhich, University of New Mexico & Colectivo Afro-Tamiahua, alongside CSUSB’s Charli Eaton (Race & Racism, SSCI 3160). Afróntalo introduces a discussion addressing the deficit of knowledge regarding the presence and prevalence of blackness throughout the Americas. Hosted by the Anthropology Museum and Charli Eaton.

Sept. 19, noon-1:40 p.m., “Africa in the History of Mexican Music,” Performing Arts building, PA-102. A program in the Afrótalo series with guest lecturer Sergio Navarrete Pellicer of CIESAS, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social, alongside CSUSB’s Edgar Melendez (Music Forum, MUS 1000). Hosted by the Anthropology Museum and Edgar Melendez.

Sept. 19, 2:30-3:45 p.m., “Black Mascogos — From Africa to the Americas,” Pfau Library, PL-217 or virtually via BlackMascogos on Zoom. A program in the Afrótalo series with guest lecturer Karla Rivera Tellez, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City, alongside CSUSB’s Marc Robinson (African American History 1620-1865, HIST 3400). Hosted by the Anthropology Museum and Marc Robinson.

Sept. 20, 9-10:15 a.m., “Race & Identity in Mexico,” Watson College of Education, CE-105 or virtually via RaceIdentityMexico on Zoom. A program in the Afrótalo series with lecturer Chantell Limerick, University of Kentucky, alongside CSUSB’s Celeste Nunez (Introduction to Ethnic Studies, ES 1000). Hosted by the Anthropology Museum and Celeste Nunez.

Sept. 20, noon-12:50 p.m., The Music and the Dances of Costa Chica, Performing Arts, PA-127 or virtually via MusicDancesCostaChica on Zoom. A program in the Afrótalo series with guest lecturer Sergio Navarrete Pellicer of CIESAS, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social, alongside CSUSB’s Jessica Getman (Global Music, MUS 3500). Hosted by the Anthropology Museum and Jessica Getman.

Sept. 21, noon- 1 p.m., “Undocumented Migration: Experiences & Perspectives from Coyolillo (Veracruz, Mexico),” SMSU East, Obershaw Dining Room. A program in the Afrótalo series, presenting a group of young activists living in Coyolillo, a town where one-third of the population has migrated to the United States. Moderated by Rosario Rizzo Lara, assistant professor of sociology, guests will hear directly and in person about the impacts of migration and U.S. immigration policies on their own lives. Hosted by the Department of Anthropology, Anthropology Museum and the CSUSB Undocumented Student Success Center. 

Sept. 21, 4-6 p.m., Opening of “Afróntalo,” Anthropology Museum, SBS-306, and the adjacent ground-level plaza. The exhibit, which runs through June 19, focuses the African ancestry shared by one-in-four Latinos. “Afróntalo” will introduce its visitors to four communities in Mexico and 21 Californians, all in their own words, to explore the depth and breadth of Afrolatiné histories, cultures and identities. Hosted by the Department of Anthropology and Anthropology Museum.

Sept. 27, noon-1:30 p.m., “Inventing Latinos: A Book Talk with Dr. Laura Gómez, Pfau Library, PL-5005. Laura Gómez, the Rachel F. Moran Endowed Chair in Law at UCLA, will discuss and sign copies of her most recent book, “Inventing Latinos: A New Story of American Racism,” named a Best Book of the Year by NPR in 2020. Copies of the book will be offered for sale at the event. Hosted by the CSUSB Libraries.

Sept. 27, 1 pm.-2:15 p.m., Conversations on Race and Policing with Guesnerth Josué Perea of Afrolatin@ Forum, virtually on the program’s Zoom page. A conversation with Guesnerth Josué Perea, executive director of the Afrolatin@ Forum. This event is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Hosted by the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the CSUSB Libraries.

Sept. 28, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., LEAD Summit XII, “¡Ya Basta! - Enough is Enough!: Education and Violence in the Context of our Schools, Community Safety, and Law-Enforcement,” SMSU South Events Center. The annual conference of the Latino Education and Advocacy Days will feature panel discussions, an art exhibit, and keynote speakers and honorary chairs Dolores Huerta, president and founder of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and Emilio Rivera, actor. Hosted by LEAD.

Oct. 4, noon-1 p.m., El Mercadito, SMSU North Court. An outdoor swap-meet event! Students/alumni who own a small business have the opportunity to sell their items on campus. All of the CSUSB community is able to support our local Yotie vendors. Hosted by the SMSU LatinX Center.

Oct. 4, noon- 1 p.m., “Social Justice Through Music and Poetry,” University Hall, UH-250. Alumna and former Spanish TA, Maria Guadalupe Ortiz, utilizes poetry and music as a form of activism and also for teaching language. Hosted by the world languages and literatures department and Los Amigos Spanish Club.

Oct. 12, noon-1 :30 p.m., “LatinX Leyendas,” LatinXCenter, SMSU North, SUN-3314. The SMSU LatinX Center invites the university community to this storytelling event. Learn about the popular scary folklore tales from various Latin American countries that are told across families and generations, and discuss their significance to Latin American culture.

Oct. 13, noon-2 p.m., Coyote Cinema: Hispanic Heritage Month, Oliphant Auditorium, Palm Desert Campus. Join the Rancho Mirage Student Center in celebrating the closing of Hispanic Heritage Month and join us for the showing of “McFarland USA.” Hosted by the Rancho Mirage Student Center.

Oct. 13, 5-6:30 p.m., “Fiesta de Pintura,” SMSU South Fourplex 217-218. Enjoy an evening of painting and refreshments! Open to the first 30 registrants, $20 registration fee supports student scholarships. Hosted by the Association of Latino Faculty, Staff & Students.

Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., “Festival de Calaveras,” Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art. The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art invites the CSUSB and the Inland Empire community to join in the annual celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by participating in the Festival de Calaveras.