Cultural Ties in Hispanic Heritage Month

The E. Timothy Moore Student Multicultural Center (The Moore Center) at Kent State University created a theme for this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month based on acknowledging the fight that Latine/x people have made for justice and equity in the spaces they occupy.

¡Viva la Gente Que Lucha! or “Long Live the People Who Fight” pays homage to those who came before.

“We wanted to pay homage to our ancestors, historical figures, notable artists and our grandparents and parents, and the strides that they have made for us to get to where we are today,” said Alice Fermaintt, program coordinator of The Moore Center.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries. It was established as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 and expanded to a 30-day observance in 1988.

Fermaintt said this is one of her favorite months. She is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a Puerto Rican.

“Growing up, we’ve been really intentional about cooking all of our foods that we like eating from our culture,” she said.

Fermaintt’s family is in Chicago, Illinois. However, she keeps those traditions alive in Kent, Ohio.

“I’m still cooking the foods that I grew up eating that are a part of my culture, but also supporting our locally owned businesses,” she said. “My fiance and I have been making it a goal that if we’re going out to eat, we’re going to support a Latino-owned business like Mamacitas.”

Ximena Díaz, a junior at Kent State majoring in exercise science with a pre-physical therapy concentration, celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with her family by going to Hispanic restaurants.

Díaz was born and raised in Peru. She was a family leader during The Moore Center’s Kupita/Transiciones (K/T) events, a cultural orientation and transition experience for newly admitted and transfer students. Díaz is currently a K/T mentor, an e-board member for the Spanish and Latine Student Association (S.A.L.S.A.), a Golden Reflections member, and a tour guide for the Admissions Office.

She said Hispanic Heritage Month is not widely celebrated in Peru since Independence Day and Catholic holidays are considered more important. However, while living in the U.S., she tries to learn more about other Latine/x cultures and raise awareness about the countries facing challenges by sharing posts on social media and discussing these issues with friends and roommates.

She also participated in a photoshoot for Kent State’s The Element Magazine this year. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, participants wore retro 90s Hispanic-style clothing and took pictures portraying their different cultures.

“I am glad we can celebrate it for a whole month,” she said. “[It] really gives us time to reflect on our culture and be able to share it with those who do not know much about it.”

Throughout the year, Díaz tries to go salsa dancing once a month. But during this time of the year, she tries to go every Friday so she is around her Hispanic friends, and they can celebrate their heritage by dancing.

She also likes to discover new Hispanic artists. She recently found a Peruvian group called “Maceradoz” that plays “boleros,” a type of Hispanic music genre.

“Food and music connect us to our people,” Fermaintt said. “That’s what connects us to our history. When I cook and send a picture to my mom, and it’s a recipe that she taught me, it is something that we are able to connect over even though we’re hundreds of miles away from each other.”

Fermaintt added that if people want to know more about this month, Latine/x cultures, and how to advocate for this community, they can attend The Moore Center’s events and get involved with its student initiatives, the Male Empowerment Network and Sister Circle.

“Supporting Latinos, advocating for them and empowering them should be year-round,” she said. “We’ve gone so far as a community, but there’s still work that needs to be done.”