Claire Moore Salgado
Head of Children's Services
Darien Library

Darien Library is honored to observe Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual celebration held every year from September 15th to October 15th.

Over fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced Proclamation 3869 which established National Hispanic Heritage Week. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The purpose was to acknowledge the valuable influence the Hispanic and Latinx community has had in this country, and the American citizens whose ancestors came from Central America, South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Spain. 

This year's Hispanic Heritage Month theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” It was selected by a voting process established by the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM). The winning theme, submitted by Ms. Ily Soares, was inspired by the diversity in culture, language, and education that Hispanic people bring to the United States. Ms. Soares commented, “one uniting factor within our Hispanic community is our desire to be included and represented in all aspects of American society. As has been proven, when different voices are sitting at the metaphorical table and included in key decisions, the entire community benefits from greater solutions that address concerns from all people.”

As a second-generation Hispanic American, the beauty of the culture is that the experiences and influences of the Hispanic and Latinx communities are incredibly diverse. Being Latinx doesn’t look one specific way. Last year, Futoro Media released the award-winning podcast Anything for Selena, which presents the influence that singer Selena Quintanilla has had on Latinos' coming of age, something called “Selinidad.” As creator Maria Garcia said in a New York Times piece, “she's become this symbol ripe for solidarity among Latinos. She became this vessel to look at the polemics, tensions and narratives around Latino life and its worth.”

This year, we encourage you to read, listen, and watch the many stories that reflect the diverse experiences found within Hispanic and Latinx communities.