Wright State’s Asian/Hispanic/Native American Center (AHNA) will hold its 16th annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, which will include a lecture, a documentary screening and a “Día de los Muertos” altar-making event.
The center has hosted Hispanic Heritage Month festivities since it opened in 1997. Each year since 1988 the U.S. government set aside the period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
The NEH said that in the U.S. government, ‘Hispanic’ refers to “Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race.” U.S. Census data from 2010 shows that people of Hispanic descent make up only about three percent of Ohio’s population.
“The Midwest is an area where we lack diversity. It’s kind of isolated,” said Mai Nguyen, Director of the AHNA Center. “We had [Hispanic History Month events] in the past and the students loved it because you learn about another culture that is so different.”
The event series begins with a lecture on Sept. 12.
“We invite scholars who are experts in immigration, law, anything to do with Latino culture or issues to come give a talk to our students,” Director of the AHNA Center Mai Nguyen said.
This year the focus of the lecture is on understanding Latino immigration from a historical perspective. The event will be held in the Millett Atrium from 11 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
“We also have some cultural activities like the celebration of the Day of the Dead. Then we have the Latin night, which is the finale,” Nguyen said. “Students and community members can join us to learn more about the Latino culture. It’s free, open to everyone.”
The Day of the Dead Altar Making event will be held on Sept. 20 at 12:15 p.m. in the Multicultural Lounge in Millett Hall and Latin Night will be Oct. 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Apollo Room.
