Los Callejeros de San Anto performed “Mi Tesoro,” “Las Noches Sin Ti” and “Tragos de Amargo Licor” at the opening ceremony for Hispanic Heritage Month. Accordian player Alvaro Del Norte spoke on his memories of immigration agents knocking on his front door looking for his parents. The band played “Mojado Acaudaldo” after briefly talking about Republican candidate Donald Trump’s comments about Mexican-Americans and U.S immigration policy. Photo by Alyssa Zapata
Hispanic Heritage Month continues with folk medicine talk Thursday.
Alejandro Diaz
sac-ranger@alamo.edu
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things, Dr. Jothany Blackwood, vice president for academic success, said Wednesday during the opening ceremony in Loftin Student Center.
She encouraged students to find inspiration in the work outstanding Hispanics have done.
“The promise is in all of you,” she said to an audience of about 40.
“At the end of the day, know that as we read about their stories and we listen to their music and study their poetry, all they did was write their own story and today you must begin to write your own,” Blackwood said.
Blackwood opened the month-long celebration that will showcase the excellence of Latino heritage and will center around the theme of Pride and Promise.
“Let this month be a new month for you,” she said. “Whatever culture you represent, whatever circumstances you have inherited, whatever challenges you face today know that none of those circumstances will dictate your promise and they certainly cannot challenge your dreams,” Blackwood said.
Earlier in the ceremony, college President Robert Vela officially kicked off the celebration and encouraged students to experience events throughout the month.
“Remember, you can’t experience and you can’t learn if you don’t participate,” Vela said. “Culture is about learning — learning who you are as an individual, learning where you came from and really appreciating and valuing such a wonderful community.”
English Professor Patricia Portales, chair of the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, said the idea behind the pride and promise theme is to highlight the contribution of Latinos to the community.
During the ceremony Los Callejeros De San Anto provided Latin music.
The celebration will feature events throughout the month that will explore government policy, history and art.
An event Thursday will be “Folk Medicine — Nature’s Healing Power.”
English Adjunct Maria D. Salinas and English Professor Liz Ann Aguilar will speak 9:25-10:40 a.m. in Room 120 of the visual arts center.
For other events, visit alamo.edu/sac/HHM15/.
