Illustration by Alexandra Nelipa
Academic and cultural programs abound.
By Kyle R. Cotton
kcotton11@student.alamo.edu
The Hispanic culture has had a huge impact on how San Antonio has developed over the last 300 years.
With that rich history to draw from, this college will be hosting 13 events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, to honor that influence.
The opening reception will be at noon Thursday in the Fiesta Room of Loftin Student Center with guest speaker Maximo Anguiano, a local actor and activist, along with musical performances by El Tallercito de Son, which performs son jarocho, a form of traditional Mexican music developed in Veracruz, Mexico.
Mariano Aguilar, Mexican-American literature professor, said Son will intersperse their performance with information regarding the history of son jarocho, which Aguilar said is a precursor to mariachi music.
Speakers from K-12, community college and university levels will participate in a panel discussion of “Who’s Telling Our Story?” about the controversy surrounding the proposed Mexican-American studies textbook, “Mexican-American Heritage,” for K-12 education.
The discussion is at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 in Room 218 of the nursing complex.
“I don’t know how much they actually read into that book; there is an entire chapter that is more anti-communist in Latin-America propaganda than it is anything about Mexican-American studies,” Aguilar said. “The word Mexican or Mexican-American is not mentioned in that chapter at all.”
Aguilar said there is also a quote in the text that depicts Mexican-Americans as lazy.
Other academic events include a Mexican-American studies open house at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in Room 100 of Chance Academic Center and a Mexican-American Studies Chicano research presentation by students in ENGL 2351, Mexican-American Literature, at 11 a.m. Oct. 10 on the fourth floor of the library in Moody Learning Center.
The students will present research on lesser-known individuals who fought for Mexican-American rights.
Aguilar said this is an ongoing project and eventually each of the student’s projects will be compiled into an anthology.
Cultural festivities include “Bailando con Sabor,” a flamenco dancing presentation 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Fiesta Room.
Hosted by student life, the event will feature Teresa Champion, mother of dance Adjunct Annette Flores, teaching how to flamenco.
The Antojitos Festival and Hecho A Mano arts fair is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 28 in the mall.
The annual event celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with music, fun activities, food and lowrider cars. All proceeds from food sales help student organizations.
For more information on these and other Hispanic Heritage Month events, call Carrie Hernandez, senior student success specialist, at 210-486-0128 or Aguilar at 210-486-0651.
